My lord, as you have been unwilling to
believe him, why have you not gone to that gentleman who, as I say, is a
real lawyer? I don't know, my lord, that it need have concerned you at
all, but as you began, you surely should have gone on with it. Don't you
think so?" She was still standing up and, small as was her stature, was
almost menacing the unfortunate Under-Secretary of State, who was still
seated in his chair. "My lord," continued Lizzie, "I have had great wrong
done me."
"Do you mean by me?"
"Yes, by you. Who else has done it?"
"I do not think that I have done wrong to any one. I was obliged to say
that I could not recognise those diamonds as the property of my wife."
"But what right had you to say so? I had the diamonds when you asked me to
be your wife."
"I did not know it."
"Nor did you know that I had this little ring upon my finger. Is it fit
that you, or that any man should turn round upon a lady and say to her
that your word is to be broken, and that she is to be exposed before all
her friends, because you have taken a fancy to dislike her ring or her
brooch? I say, Lord Fawn, it was no business of yours, even after you were
engaged to me.
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