Eustace people or the lawyer should be harsh to a widow bearing the
Eustace name. The Eustaces were by disposition lavish, and old Mr.
Camperdown was not one who would be strict in claiming little things for
rich clients. And yet here was his letter, threatening the widow of the
late baronet with legal proceedings for the recovery of jewels which had
been given by Sir Florian himself to his wife as a keepsake! Perhaps Sir
Florian had made some mistake, and had caused to be set in a ring or
brooch for his bride some jewel which he had thought to be his own, but
which had, in truth, been an heirloom. If so, the jewel should, of course,
be surrendered, or replaced by one of equal value. He was making out some
such solution, when Lizzie returned with the morocco case in her hand. "It
was the manner in which he gave it to me," said Lizzie, as she opened the
clasp, "which makes its value to me."

Lord Fawn knew nothing about jewels, but even he knew that if the circle
of stones which he saw, with a Maltese cross appended to it, was
constituted of real diamonds, the thing must be of great value. And it
occurred to him at once that such a necklace is not given by a husband
even to a bride in the manner described by Lizzie. A ring, or brooch, or
perhaps a bracelet, a lover or a loving lord may bring in his pocket. But
such an ornament as this on which Lord Fawn was now looking is given in
another sort of way. He felt sure that it was so, even though he was
entirely ignorant of the value of the stones. "Do you know what it is
worth?" he asked.

Lizzie hesitated a moment and then remembered that "Frederic," in his
present position in regard to herself, might be glad to assist her in
maintaining the possession of a substantial property. "I think they say
its value is about--ten thousand pounds," she replied.