My mother was just setting off on a visit to the Duchess of D_____; she declared it was impossible to go without her diamonds.

The chief of the bailiffs declared it was impossible to trust them out of his sight.

The matter was compromised--the bailiff went with my mother to C___, and was introduced as my tutor.

"A man of singular merit," whispered my mother, "but so shy!" Fortunately, the bailiff was abashed, and by losing his impudence he kept the secret.

At the end of the week, the diamonds went to the jeweller's, and Lady Frances wore paste.
I think it was about a month afterwards that a sixteenth cousin left my mother twenty thousand pounds.