And, indeed, there were some there who would not wait
for the post, but had the news about poor Lizzie's diamonds down by the
wires. The matter was of the greatest moment to Lord Fawn, and Lady
Glencora was perhaps justified, on his behalf, in demanding a preference
for her affairs over the messages which were continually passing between
Matching and the Treasury respecting those two ill-conditioned farthings.
"Duke," she said, entering rather abruptly the small, warm, luxurious room
in which her husband's uncle was passing the morning--"Duke, they say now
that after all the diamonds were not in the box when it was taken out of
the room at Carlisle." The duke was reclining in an easy-chair, with his
head leaning forward on his breast, and Madame Goesler was reading to him.
It was now three o'clock, and the old man had been brought down to this
room after his breakfast. Madame Goesler was reading the last famous new
novel, and the duke was dozing. That, probably, was the fault neither of
the reader nor of the novelist, as the duke was wont to doze in these
days. But Lady Glencora's tidings awakened him completely. She had the
telegram in her hand--so that he could perceive that the very latest news
was brought to him.
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