He made but one remark about it. "I have told the chief man here," he
said, "that I shall be ready to give any evidence in my power when called
upon. Till then I shall take no further steps in the matter. I have been
asked questions that should not have been asked." In saying this he had
used a tone which prevented further conversation on the subject, but
Lizzie, as she thought of it all, remembered his jocular remark, made in
the railway carriage, as to the suspicion which had already been expressed
on the matter in regard to himself. If he had been the perpetrator, and
had then found that he had only stolen the box, how wonderful would be the
mystery!
"He hasn't got anything to say," replied Lizzie to the question of the
countess.
"And who is your Mrs. Carbuncle?" asked the old woman.
"A particular friend of mine with whom I am staying at present. You don't
go about a great deal, Aunt Linlithgow, but surely you must have met Mrs.
Carbuncle."
"I'm an ignorant old woman, no doubt. My dear, I'm not at all surprised at
your losing your diamonds. The pity is that they weren't your own."
"They were my own."
"The loss will fall on you, no doubt, because the Eustace people will make
you pay for them.
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