Camperdown's chambers, and John Eustace had also been present. The lawyer
had suffered considerable annoyance, before the arrival of the two first-
named gentlemen, from reiterated assertions made by Eustace that he would
take no further trouble whatsoever about the jewels. Mr. Camperdown had in
vain pointed out to him that a plain duty lay upon him as executor and
guardian to protect the property on behalf of his nephew; but Eustace had
asserted that, though he himself was comparatively a poor man, he would
sooner replace the necklace out of his own property than be subject to the
nuisance of such a continued quarrel. "My dear John; ten thousand pounds!"
Mr. Camperdown had said. "It is a fortune for a younger son."
"The boy is only two years old, and will have time enough to make fortunes
for his own younger sons, if he does not squander everything. If he does,
ten thousand pounds will make no difference."
"But the justice of the thing, John!"
"Justice may be purchased too dearly."
"Such a harpy as she is, too!" pleaded the lawyer. Then Lord Fawn had come
in, and Greystock had followed immediately afterwards.
"I may as well say at once," said Greystock, "that Lady Eustace is
determined to maintain her right to the property; and that she will not
give up the diamonds till some adequate court of law shall have decided
that she is mistaken in her views.
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