It was considered that the trial
could not be postponed till the next sitting at the Criminal Court,
because certain witnesses in respect to the diamonds had been procured
from Hamburg and Vienna, at a very great cost; they were actually on their
way to London when Lizzie's second letter was received. Mr. Camperdown had
resolved to have the diamonds still, with a hope that they might be
restored to the keeping of Messrs. Garnett, there to lie hidden and
unused, at any rate for the next twenty years. The diamonds had been
traced first to Hamburg and then to Vienna, and it was to be proved that
they were now adorning the bosom of a certain enormously rich Russian
princess. From the grasp of the Russian princess it was found impossible
to rescue them; but the witnesses who, as it was hoped, might have aided
Mr. Camperdown in his efforts, were to be examined at the trial.
A confidential clerk was sent down to Portray, but the confidential clerk
altogether failed in making his way into Lizzie's presence. Word was
brought to him that nothing but force could take Lady Eustace from her
bedchamber; and that force used to that effect might take her out dead,
but certainly not alive.
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