then again he paused.

"Lord Fawn!"

"I trust you will believe that nothing can be further from me than
that you should be harassed by any conduct of mine."

"I am harassed, my lord."

"And so am I. I have learned that you are in possession of certain
jewels which I cannot allow to be held by my wife."

"I am not your wife, Lord Fawn." As she said this, she rose from her
reclining posture and sat erect.

"That is true. You are not. But you said you would be."

"Go on, sir."

"It was the pride of my life to think that I had attained to so much
happiness. Then came this matter of the diamonds."

"What business have you with my diamonds,--more than any other man?"

"Simply that I am told that they are not yours."

"Who tells you so?"

"Various people. Mr. Camperdown."

"If you, my lord, intend to take an attorney's word against mine, and
that on a matter as to which no one but myself can know the truth,
then you are not fit to be my husband. The diamonds are my own, and
should you and I become man and wife, they must remain so by special
settlement. While I choose to keep them they will be mine,--to do
with them as I please. It will be my pleasure, when my boy marries,
to hang them round his bride's neck." She carried herself well, and
spoke her words with dignity.

"What I have got to say is this," began Lord Fawn;--"I must consider
our engagement as at an end unless you will give them up to Mr.
Camperdown."

"I will not give them up to Mr. Camperdown."

"Then,--then,--then,--"

"And I make bold to tell you, Lord Fawn, that you are not behaving to
me like a man of honour. I shall now leave the matter in the hands of
my cousin, Mr. Greystock." Then she sailed out of the room, and Lord
Fawn was driven to escape from the house as he might. He stood about
the room for five minutes with his hat in his hand, and then walked
down and let himself out of the front door.

CHAPTER XX

The Diamonds Become Troublesome

The thirtieth of July came round, and Lizzie was prepared for her
journey down to Scotland. She was to be accompanied by Miss Macnulty
and her own maid and her own servants, and to travel, of course, like
a grand lady. She had not seen Lord Fawn since the meeting recorded
in the last chapter, but had seen her cousin Frank nearly every other
day. He, after much consideration, had written a long letter to Lord
Fawn, in which he had given that nobleman to understand that some
explanation