"My own diamonds, Mr. Camperdown."
"I cannot admit that for a moment, my lady."
"What does it signify?" said Eustace. "The wretched stones are gone for ever; and whether they were of right the property of my sister-in-law, or of her son, cannot matter now."
Mr. Camperdown was irritated, and shook his head. It cut him to the heart that everybody should take the part of the wicked, fraudulent woman who had caused him such infinite trouble. Lizzie saw her opportunity and was bolder than ever. "You will never get me to acknowledge that they were not my own," she said. "My husband gave them to me, and I know that they were my own."
"They have been stolen, at any rate," said the lawyer.
"Yes;—they have been stolen."
"And now will you tell us how?"
Lizzie looked round upon her brother-in-law and sighed. She had never yet told the story in all its nakedness, although it had been three or four times extracted from her by admission. She paused, hoping that questions might be asked her which she could answer by easy monosyllables, but not a word was uttered to help her. "I suppose you know all about it," she said at last.
"I know nothing about it," said Mr. Camperdown.
"We heard that your jewel-case was taken out of your room at Carlisle and broken open," said Eustace.