n had said. "I believe I understand
everything," she replied. Then, just at the close of the interview,
he asked a question about the jewels. Lady Eustace at first made no
reply. "They might as well be sent back to Messrs. Garnett's," said
Mr. Camperdown. "I don't know that I have any to send back," she
answered; and then she escaped before Mr. Camperdown was able to
arrange any further attack. "I can manage with her better by letter
than I can personally," he said to John Eustace.

Lawyers such as Mr. Camperdown are slow, and it was three or four
months after that when he wrote a letter in his own name to Lady
Eustace, explaining to her, still courteously, that it was his
business to see that the property of the Eustace family was placed in
fit hands, and that a certain valuable necklace of diamonds, which
was an heirloom of the family, and which was undeniably the property
of the heir, was believed to be in her custody. As such property was
peculiarly subject to risks, would she have the kindness to make
arrangements for handing over the necklace to the custody of the
Messrs. Garnett? To this letter Lizzie made no answer whatever, nor
did she to a second note, calling attention to the first. When John
Eustace told Greystock that Camperdown intended to "jump on" Lady
Eustace, the following further letter had been written by the
firm;--but up to that time Lizzie had not replied to it:

62, New Square, Lincoln's Inn,
May 5, 186--.

MADAM,

It is our duty as attorneys acting on behalf of the estate
of your late husband Sir Florian Eustace, and in the
interest of your son, his heir, to ask for restitution
of a certain valuable diamond necklace which is believed
to be now in the possession of your ladyship. Our senior
partner, Mr. Camperdown, has written to your ladyship more
than once on the subject, but has not been honoured with
any reply. Doubtless had there been any mistake as to
the necklace being in your hands we should have been
so informed. The diamonds were withdrawn from Messrs.
Garnett's, the jewellers, by Sir Florian soon after his
marriage, and were, no doubt, entrusted to your keeping.
They are appanages of the family which should not be in
your hands as the widow of the late baronet, and they
constitute an amount of property which certainly cannot
be alienated from the family without inquiry or right, as
might any trifling article either o