like
Caesar's wife, above the suspicion of others."

"If you would mind your own business, Tewett," said Lord George, "it
would be a deal better for us all. I wonder Mrs. Carbuncle does not
turn you out of the room for making such a proposition here. If it
were my room, I would."

"I suppose I can say what I please to Mrs. Carbuncle? Miss Roanoke is
not going to be your wife."

"It is my belief that Miss Roanoke will be nobody's wife,--at any
rate, for the present," said that young lady;--upon which Sir Griffin
left the room, muttering some words which might have been, perhaps,
intended for an adieu. Immediately after this, Lizzie came in, moving
slowly, but without a sound, like a ghost, with pale cheeks and
dishevelled hair, and that weary, worn look of illness which was
become customary with her. She greeted Lord George with a faint
attempt at a smile, and seated herself in a corner of a sofa. She
asked whether he had been told the story of the proposed search, and
then bade her friend Mrs. Carbuncle describe the scene.

"If it goes on like this it will kill me," said Lizzie.

"They are treating me in precisely the same way," said Lord George.

"But think of your strength and of my weakness, Lord George."

"By heavens, I don't know!" said Lord George. "In this matter your
weakness is stronger than any strength of mine. I never was so cut up
in my life. It was a good joke when we talked of the suspicions of
that fellow at Carlisle as we came up by the railway,--but it is no
joke now. I've had men with me, almost asking to search among my
things."

"They have quite asked me!" said Lizzie piteously.

"You;--yes. But there's some reason in that. These infernal diamonds
did belong to you, or, at any rate, you had them. You are the last
person known to have seen them. Even if you had them still, you'd
only have what you call your own." Lizzie looked at him with all her
eyes and listened to him with all her ears. "But what the mischief
can I have had to do with them?"

"It's very hard upon you," said Mrs. Carbuncle.

"Unless I stole them," continued Lord George.

"Which is so absurd, you know," said Lizzie.

"That a pig-headed provincial fool should have taken me for a
midnight thief, did not disturb me much. I don't think I am very
easily annoyed by what other people think of me. But these fellows, I
suppose, were sent here by the head of the metropolitan police; and
everybody knows that they have been se