"I think, Lady Eustace, we have found out the whole truth."
"Oh, I daresay. I wonder why—you have been so long—finding it out."
"We have had very clever people to deal with, Lady Eustace;—and I fear that, even now, we shall never get back the property."
"I do not care about the property, sir;—although it was all my own. Nobody has lost anything but myself; and I really don't see why the thing should not die out, as I don't care about it. Whoever it is, they may have it now."
"We were bound to get to the bottom of it all, if we could; and I think that we have,—at last. Perhaps, as you say, we ought to have done it sooner."
"Oh,—I don't care."
"We have two persons in custody, Lady Eustace, whom we shall use as witnesses, and I am afraid we shall have to call upon you also,—as a witness." It occurred to Lizzie that they could not lock her up in prison and make her a witness too, but she said nothing. Then the major continued his speech,—and asked her the question which was, in fact, alone material. "Of course, Lady Eustace, you are not bound to say anything to me unless you like it,—and you must understand that I by no means wish you to criminate yourself."
"I don't know what that means."
"If you yourself have done anything wrong, I don't want to ask you to confess it."
"I have had all my diamonds stolen, if you mean that. Perhaps it was wrong to have diamonds."