But Sir Florian had been obstinate,--both in regard to the settlement and the will.

It was not till after Sir Florian's death that this terrible matter of the jewels had even suggested itself to Mr.Camperdown.The jewellers in whose custody the things had been since the death of the late Lady Eustace had mentioned the affair to him immediately on the young widow's return from Naples.

Sir Florian had withdrawn, not all the jewels, but by far the most valuable of them, from the jewellers' care on his return to London from their marriage tour to Scotland, and this was the result.

The jewellers were at that time without any doubt as to the date at which the necklace was taken from them.
Mr.Camperdown's first attempt was made by a most courteous and even complimentary note, in which he suggested to Lady Eustace that it would be for the advantage of all parties that the family jewels should be kept together.

Lizzie as she read this note smiled, and said to herself that she did not exactly see how her own interests would be best served by such an arrangement.