"
"I have only asked her to give up the diamonds till the question should be
settled," said Lord Fawn.
"And you backed your request, my lord, by a threat! My cousin is naturally
most indignant; and, my lord, you must allow me to tell you that I fully
share the feeling."
"There is no use in making a quarrel about it," said Eustace.
"The quarrel is already made," replied Greystock. "I am here to tell Lord
Fawn in your presence, and in the presence of Mr. Camperdown, that he is
behaving to a lady with ill-usage, which he would not dare to exercise did
he not know that her position saves him from legal punishment, as do the
present usages of society from other consequences."
"I have behaved to her with every possible consideration," said Lord Fawn.
"That is a simple assertion," said the other. "I have made one assertion,
and you have made another. The world will have to judge between us. What
right have you to take upon yourself to decide whether this thing or that
belongs to Lady Eustace or to any one else?"
"When the thing was talked about I was obliged to have an opinion," said
Lord Fawn, who was still thinking of words in which to reply to the insult
offered him by Greystock without injury to his dignity as an Under-
Secretary of State.
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