Frank Greystock believed Lizzie’s story that the jewels had been stolen and defended her against those who proclaimed it to he a clever ruse to retain them. The Eustace diamonds became the talk of the town, the gossip concerning them even reaching the old Duke of Omnium. Lord George Carruthers, whom she had thought might be the “Corsair of her Byronic dreams,” and who was a member of her party, was suspected of being in league with the thieves. When the police arrived she did not tell them that the jewels were still in her possession. Returning to London from Portray Castle, her hotel room at Carlisle was entered and the safe in which she was known to carry the diamonds was stolen. He proposed and was accepted, but when he learned about the Eustace diamond scandal he tried to withdraw. Her second candidate was Lord Fawn, an undersecretary in the India Office, who thought that her income would compensate for the fact that he did not love her.

Although badly in need of money, he did not rise to her bait as he was engaged to Lucy Morris. Her first choice was Frank Greystock, her cousin, an MP and a rising barrister. Mr.Camperdown, the Eustace family lawyer, asserted with much energy that the jewels were an heirloom and could not he disposed of in the casual manner described by Lizzie, but she refused to give them up.Īfter a few months of widowhood, she began to search for another husband. There was also a diamond necklace, valued at £10,000 which she claimed had been given to her earlier by Sir Florian. Her wiles were sufficient to induce the wealthy Sir Florian Eustace to marry her, but within a few months he was dead, leaving her possessed of a life interest in the Scotch property, Portray Castle, and an income of £4,000. Lizzie Eustace was the very beautiful, superficially clever and completely selfish daughter of an admiral who was no credit whatever to the British Navy.

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