rst thought of all this, the only plan hitherto suggested to
herself would require her immediate return to Portray. If she were at
Portray she could find a spot in which she could bury the necklace.
But she was obliged to allow herself now to be hurried up to London.
When she got into the train the little parcel was in her desk, and
the key of her desk was fastened round her neck.

They had secured a compartment for themselves from Carlisle to
London, and of course filled four seats. "As I am alive," said
Lord George as soon as the train had left the station, "that head
policeman thinks that I am the thief!" Mrs. Carbuncle laughed.
Lizzie protested that this was absurd. Lucinda declared that such
a suspicion would be vastly amusing. "It's a fact," continued Lord
George. "I can see it in the fellow's eye, and I feel it to be a
compliment. They are so very 'cute that they delight in suspicions.
I remember, when the altar-plate was stolen from Barchester Cathedral
some years ago, a splendid idea occurred to one of the police, that
the Bishop had taken it!"

"Really?" asked Lizzie.

"Oh, yes;--really. I don't doubt but that there is already a belief
in some of their minds that you have stolen your own diamonds for the
sake of getting the better of Mr. Camperdown."

"But what could I do with them if I had?" asked Lizzie.

"Sell them, of course. There is always a market for such goods."

"But who would buy them?"

"If you have been so clever, Lady Eustace, I'll find a purchaser for
them. One would have to go a good distance to do it,--and there would
be some expense. But the thing could be done. Vienna, I should think,
would be about the place."

"Very well, then," said Lizzie. "You won't be surprised if I ask you
to take the journey for me." Then they all laughed, and were very
much amused. It was quite agreed among them that Lizzie bore her loss
very well.

"I shouldn't care the least for losing them," said Lizzie,--"only
that Florian gave them to me. They have been such a vexation to me
that to be without them will be a comfort." Her desk had been brought
into the carriage and was now used as a foot-stool in place of the
box which was gone.

They arrived at Mrs. Carbuncle's house in Hertford Street quite
late, between ten and eleven;--but a note had been sent from Lizzie
to her cousin Frank's address from the Euston Square station by a
commissionaire. Indeed, two notes were sent,--one to the House of
Commons,