It was some days after this that there came down to her by post some
terribly frightful documents, which were the first results, as far as she
was concerned, of the filing of a bill in Chancery; which hostile
proceeding was, in truth, effected by the unaided energy of Mr.
Camperdown, although Mr. Camperdown put himself forward simply as an
instrument used by the trustees of the Eustace property. Within eight days
she was to enter an appearance, or go through some preliminary ceremony
toward showing why she should not surrender her diamonds to the Lord
Chancellor, or to one of those satraps of his, the Vice-Chancellors, or to
some other terrible myrmidon. Mr. Camperdown in his letter explained that
the service of this document upon her in Scotland would amount to nothing,
even were he to send it down by a messenger; but that no doubt she would
send it to her attorney, who would see the expediency of avoiding exposure
by accepting the service. Of all which explanation Lizzie did not
understand one word. Messrs. Camperdown's letter and the document which it
contained did frighten her considerably, although the matter had been
discussed so often that she had accustomed herself to declare that no such
bugbear as that should have any influence on her.
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