ck in the same way.
"There's nothing the thieves would find easier than to steal them on
the way," said Mrs. Carbuncle.

It was some days after this that there came down to her by post some
terribly frightful documents, which were the first results, as far
as she was concerned, of the filing of a bill in Chancery;--which
hostile proceeding was, in truth, effected by the unaided energy of
Mr. Camperdown, although Mr. Camperdown put himself forward simply as
an instrument used by the trustees of the Eustace property. Within
eight days she was to enter an appearance, or go through some
preliminary ceremony towards showing why she should not surrender
her diamonds to the Lord Chancellor, or to one of those satraps of
his, the Vice-Chancellors, or to some other terrible myrmidon. Mr.
Camperdown in his letter explained that the service of this document
upon her in Scotland would amount to nothing,--even were he to send
it down by a messenger; but that, no doubt, she would send it to
her attorney, who would see the expedience of avoiding exposure
by accepting the service. Of all which explanation Lizzie did not
understand one word. Messrs. Camperdowns' letter and the document
which it contained did frighten her considerably, although the matter
had been discussed so often that she had accustomed herself to
declare that no such bugbears as that should have any influence on
her. She had asked Frank whether, in the event of such missiles
reaching her, she might send them to him. He had told her that
they should be at once placed in the hands of her attorney;--and
consequently she now sent them to Messrs. Mowbray and Mopus, with a
very short note from herself. "Lady Eustace presents her compliments
to Messrs. Mowbray and Mopus, and encloses some papers she has
received about her diamonds. They are her own diamonds, given to her
by her late husband. Please do what is proper, but Mr. Camperdown
ought to be made to pay all the expenses."

She had, no doubt, allowed herself to hope that no further
steps would be taken in the matter; and the very name of the
Vice-Chancellor did for a few hours chill the blood at her heart. In
those few hours she almost longed to throw the necklace into the sea,
feeling sure that, if the diamonds were absolutely lost, there must
be altogether an end of the matter. But, by degrees, her courage
returned to her, as she remembered that her cousin had told her that,
as far as he could see, the necklace wa