Camperdown was quite certain. On
that point he suffered no doubt. But would he be able to prove that the
diamonds had never been in Scotland since Sir Florian's marriage? He had
traced their history from that date with all the diligence he could use,
and he thought that he knew it. But it might be doubtful whether he could
prove it. Lady Eustace had first stated--had so stated before she had
learned the importance of any other statement--that Sir Florian had given
her the diamonds in London as they passed through London from Scotland to
Italy, and that she had carried them thence to Naples, where Sir Florian
had died. If this were so, they could not have been at Portray Castle till
she took them there as a widow, and they would undoubtedly be regarded as
a portion of that property which Sir Florian habitually kept in London.
That this was so Mr. Camperdown. entertained no doubt. But now the widow
alleged that Sir Florian had given the necklace to her in Scotland,
whither they had gone immediately after their marriage, and that she
herself had brought them up to London. They had been married on the 5th of
September; and by the jewellers' books it was hard to tell whether the
trinket had been given up to Sir Florian on the 4th or 24th of September.
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