ble on her mind as to which he was called
upon to give her counsel before he was allowed to leave her. She had
told the detective officer that she would submit her boxes and desks
to be searched if her cousin Frank should advise it. If the policeman
were to return with her cousin while the diamonds were still in her,
desk, what should she do? He might come at any time; and then she
would be bound to obey him. "And he thinks that they were stolen at
Carlisle?" asked Lord George. "Of course he thinks so," said Lizzie,
almost indignantly. "They would never ask to search your person,"
suggested Lord George. Lizzie could not say. She had simply declared
that she would be guided by her cousin. "Have them about you when he
comes. Don't take them out with you; but keep them in your pocket
while you are in the house during the day. They will hardly bring a
woman with them to search you."

"But there was a woman with the man when he came before."

"Then you must refuse in spite of your cousin. Show yourself angry
with him and with everybody. Swear that you did not intend to submit
yourself to such indignity as that. They can't do it without a
magistrate's order, unless you permit it. I don't suppose they will
come at all; and if they do they will only look at your clothes and
your boxes. If they ask to do more, be stout with them and refuse. Of
course they'll suspect you, but they do that already. And your cousin
will suspect you;--but you must put up with that. It will be very
bad;--but I see nothing better. But, of all things, say nothing of
me."

"Oh, no," said Lizzie, promising to be obedient to him. And then he
took his leave of her. "You will be true to me;--will you not?" she
said, still clinging to his arm. He promised her that he would. "Oh,
George," she said, "I have no friend now but you. You will care for
me?" He took her in his arms and kissed her, and promised her that he
would care for her. How was he to save himself from doing so? When he
was gone, Lizzie sat down to think of it all, and felt sure that at
last she had found her Corsair.

CHAPTER LII

Mrs. Carbuncle Goes to the Theatre

Mrs. Carbuncle and Lizzie Eustace did not, in these days, shut
themselves up because there was trouble in the household. It would
not have suited the creed of Mrs. Carbuncle on social matters to be
shut up from the amusements of life. She had sacrificed too much
in seeking them for that, and was too conscious of the