dn't know that," said Lizzie.

"But I did; and with that rascal I have had money dealings for the
last six or seven years. He has cashed bills for me, and has my name
to bills now,--and Sir Griffin's too. I'm half inclined to think that
he has got the diamonds."

"Do you indeed?" said Mrs. Carbuncle.

"Mr. Benjamin!" said Lizzie.

"And he returns the compliment."

"How does he return it?" asked Mrs. Carbuncle.

"He either thinks that I've got 'em, or he wants to make me believe
that he thinks so. He hasn't dared to say it;--but that's his
intention. Such an opinion from such a man on such a subject would be
quite a compliment. And I feel it. But yet it troubles me. You know
that greasy, Israelitish smile of his, Lady Eustace." Lizzie nodded
her head and tried to smile. "When I asked him yesterday about the
diamonds, he leered at me and rubbed his hands. 'It's a pretty little
game;--ain't it, Lord George?' he said. I told him that I thought it
a very bad game, and that I hoped the police would have the thief and
the necklace soon. 'It's been managed a deal too well for that, Lord
George;--don't you think so?'" Lord George mimicked the Jew as he
repeated the words, and the ladies, of course, laughed. But poor
Lizzie's attempt at laughter was very sorry. "I told him to his face
that I thought he had them among his treasures. 'No, no, no, Lord
George,' he said, and seemed quite to enjoy the joke. If he's got
them himself, he can't think that I have them;--but if he has not, I
don't doubt but he believes that I have. And I'll tell you another
person who suspects me."

"What fools they are," said Lizzie.

"I don't know how that may be. Sir Griffin, Lucinda, isn't at all
sure but what I have them in my pocket."

"I can believe anything of him," said Lucinda.

"And it seems he can believe anything of me. I shall begin to think
soon that I did take them, myself,--or, at any rate, that I ought to
have done so. I wonder what you three women think of it. If you do
think I've got 'em, don't scruple to say so. I'm quite used to it,
and it won't hurt me any further." The ladies again laughed. "You
must have your suspicions," continued he.

"I suppose some of the London thieves did get them," said Mrs.
Carbuncle.

"The police say the box was empty," said Lord George.

"How can the police know?" asked Lucinda. "They weren't there to see.
Of course, the thieves would say that they didn't take them."

"What do you think