"Ten--thousand--pounds!" Lord Fawn riveted his eyes upon them.

"That's what I am told--by a jeweller."

"By what jeweller?"

"A man had to come and see them, about some repairs, or something of that
kind. Poor Sir Florian wished it. And he said so."

"What was the man's name?"

"I forget his name," said Lizzie, who was not quite sure whether her
acquaintance with Mr. Benjamin would be considered respectable.

"Ten thousand pounds! You don't keep them in the house, do you?"

"I have an iron case up-stairs for them, ever so heavy."

"And did Sir Florian give you the iron case?" Lizzie hesitated for a
moment. "Yes," said she. "That is--no. But he ordered it to be made; and
then it came, after he was--dead."

"He knew their value, then."

"Oh dear, yes. Though he never named any sum. He told me, however, that
they were very--very valuable."

Lord Fawn did not immediately recognise the falseness of every word that
the woman said to him, because he was slow and could not think and hear at
the same time. But he was at once involved in a painful maze of doubt and