p. What does Mr. Dove say?"

"I have not seen what Mr. Dove says. It is clear that the necklace is
not an heirloom."

"Then how dare Mr. Camperdown say so often that it was?"

"He said what he thought," pleaded Frank.

"And he is a lawyer!"

"I am a lawyer, and I did not know what is or what is not an
heirloom. But Mr. Dove is clearly of opinion that such a property
could not have been given away simply by word of mouth." John Eustace
in his letter had made no allusion to that complicated question of
paraphernalia.

"But it was," said Lizzie. "Who can know but myself, when no one else
was present?"

"The jewels are here now?"

"Not in my pocket. I do not carry them about with me. They are in the
castle."

"And will they go back with you to London?"

"Was ever lady so interrogated? I do not know yet that I shall go
back to London. Why am I asked such questions? As to you, Frank, I
would tell you everything,--my whole heart, if only you cared to know
it. But why is John Eustace to make inquiry as to personal ornaments
which are my own property? If I go to London, I will take them there,
and wear them at every house I enter. I will do so in defiance of Mr.
Camperdown and Lord Fawn. I think, Frank, that no woman was ever so
ill-treated as I am."

He himself thought that she was ill-treated. She had so pleaded her
case, and had been so lovely in her tears and her indignation, that
he began to feel something like true sympathy for her cause. What
right had he, or had Mr. Camperdown, or any one, to say that the
jewels did not belong to her? And if her claim to them was just, why
should she be persuaded to give up the possession of them? He knew
well that were she to surrender them with the idea that they should
be restored to her if her claim were found to be just, she would not
get them back very soon. If once the jewels were safe, locked up in
Mr. Garnett's strong box, Mr. Camperdown would not care how long it
might be before a jury or a judge should have decided on the case.
The burthen of proof would then be thrown upon Lady Eustace. In order
that she might recover her own property she would have to thrust
herself forward as a witness, and appear before the world a claimant,
greedy for rich ornaments. Why should he advise her to give them up?
"I am only thinking," said he, "what may be the best for your own
peace."

"Peace!"--she exclaimed. "How am I to have peace? Remember the
condition in which I find m