He had called this necklace an heirloom to John
Eustace above a score of times; and now he was told by Mr. Dove not only
that the necklace was not an heirloom, but that it couldn't have been an
heirloom. He was a man who trusted much in a barrister, as was natural
with an attorney; but he was now almost inclined to doubt Mr. Dove. And he
was hardly more at ease in regard to the other clauses of the opinion. Not
only could not the estate claim the necklace as an heirloom, but that
greedy siren, that heartless snake, that harpy of a widow--for it was thus
that Mr. Camperdown in his solitude spoke to himself of poor Lizzie,
perhaps throwing in a harder word or two--that female swindler could claim
it as--paraphernalia!
There was a crumb of comfort for him in the thought that he could force
her to claim that privilege from a decision of the Court of Queen's Bench,
and that her greed would be exposed should she do so. And she could be
prevented from selling the diamonds. Mr. Dove seemed to make that quite
clear. But then there came that other question as to the inheritance of
the property under the husband's will. That Sir Florian had not intended
that she should inherit the necklace, Mr.
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