made for such purpose. The sergeant
of police was quite sure that the thing had been done by London men
who were at the very top of their trade. It was manifest that nothing
had been spared. Every motion of the party must have been known to
them, and probably one of the adventurers had travelled in the same
train with them. And the very doors of the bedroom in the hotel had
been measured by the man who had cut out the bolt. The sergeant of
police was almost lost in admiration;--but the superintendent of
police, whom Lord George saw more than once, was discreet and silent.
To the superintendent of police it was by no means sure that Lord
George himself might not be fond of diamonds. Of a suspicion flying
so delightfully high as this, he breathed no word to any one; but
simply suggested that he should like to retain the companionship of
one of the party. If Lady Eustace could dispense with the services of
the tall footman, the tall footman might be found useful at Carlisle.
It was arranged, therefore, that the tall footman should remain;--and
the tall footman did remain, though not with his own consent.

The whole party, including Lady Eustace herself and Patience
Crabstick, were called upon to give their evidence to the Carlisle
magistrates before they could proceed to London. This Lizzie did,
having the necklace at that moment locked up in her desk at the inn.
The diamonds were supposed to be worth ten thousand pounds. There
was to be a lawsuit about them. She did not for a moment doubt that
they were her property. She had been very careful about the diamonds
because of the lawsuit. Fearing that Mr. Camperdown might wrest them
from her possession, she had caused the iron box to be made. She
had last seen the diamonds on the evening before her departure from
Portray. She had then herself locked them up, and she now produced
the key. The lock was still so far uninjured that the key would turn
it. That was her evidence. Crabstick, with a good deal of reticence,
supported her mistress. She had seen the diamonds, no doubt, but had
not seen them often. She had seen them down at Portray, but not for
ever so long. Crabstick had very little to say about them; but the
clever superintendent was by no means sure that Crabstick did not
know more than she said. Mrs. Carbuncle and Lord George had also
seen the diamonds at Portray. There was no doubt whatever as to the
diamonds having been in the iron box;--nor was there, said Lord
G