"
"Of course it would be too much," said Lady Glencora. "It is quite out of
the question." Then after a moment she added, in a whisper, "Who knows but
what he'd insist on marrying her? It isn't every woman that can resist
temptation." Madame Goesler smiled and shook her head, but made no answer
to Lady Glencora's suggestion. Lady Glencora assured her uncle that
everything should be told to him. She would write about it daily, and send
him the latest news by the wires if the post should be too slow.
"Ah, yes," said the duke. "I like telegrams best. I think, you know, that
that Lord George Carruthers had had something to do with it. Don't you,
Madame Goesler?" It had long been evident that the duke was anxious that
one of his own order should be proved to have been the thief, as the
plunder taken was so lordly.
In regard to Lizzie herself, Lady Glencora, on her return to London, took
it into her head to make a diversion in our heroine's favour. It had
hitherto been a matter of faith with all the liberal party that Lady
Eustace had had something to do with stealing her own diamonds. That
_esprit de corps_ which is the glorious characteristic of English
statesmen had caused the whole Government to support Lord Fawn, and Lord
Fawn could be supported only on the supposition that Lizzie Eustace had
been a wicked culprit.
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