Lizzie's loss in that second robbery had
amounted to some hundred pounds. This was Frank Greystock's theory, and of
course it was one very comfortable to Lizzie.
"They all seem to think that the diamonds are at Paris," he said to her
one day.
"If you only knew how little I care about them! It seems as though I had
almost forgotten them in these after troubles."
"Mr. Camperdown cares about them. I'm told he says that he can make you
pay for them out of your jointure."
"That would be very terrible, of course," said Lizzie, to whose mind there
was something consolatory in the idea that the whole affair of the robbery
might perhaps remain so mysterious as to remove her from the danger of
other punishment than this.
"I feel sure that he couldn't do it," said Frank, "and I don't think he'll
try it. John Eustace would not let him. It would be persecution."
"Mr. Camperdown has always chosen to persecute me," said Lizzie.
"I can understand that he shouldn't like the loss of the diamonds. I don't
think, Lizzie, you ever realized their true value."
"I suppose not. After all, a necklace is only a necklace. I cared nothing
for it--except that I could not bear the idea that that man should dictate
to me.
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