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all except the little clasp； which a dear friend of mine
gave me long ago。 I hired them； to be sure。 I hired them
at Mr。 Polonius's； in Coventry Street。 You don't suppose
that all the diamonds which go to Court belong to the
wearers； like those beautiful stones which Lady Jane has；
and which are much handsomer than any which I have；
I am certain。〃
〃They are family jewels；〃 said Sir Pitt； again looking
uneasy。 And in this family conversation the carriage
rolled down the street； until its cargo was finally
discharged at the gates of the palace where the Sovereign
was sitting in state。
The diamonds； which had created Rawdon's admiration；
never went back to Mr。 Polonius； of Coventry Street； and
that gentleman never applied for their restoration； but
they retired into a little private repository； in an old desk；
which Amelia Sedley had given her years and years ago；
and in which Becky kept a number of useful and；
perhaps； valuable things； about which her husband
knew nothing。 To know nothing； or little； is in the
nature of some husbands。 To hide； in the nature of how
many women？ Oh； ladies！ how many of you have
surreptitious milliners' bills？ How many of you have gowns
and bracelets which you daren't show； or which you wear
trembling？trembling； and coaxing with smiles the
husband by your side； who does not know the new velvet
gown from the old one； or the new bracelet from last
year's； or has any notion that the ragged…looking yellow
lace scarf cost forty guineas and that Madame Bobinot is
writing dunning letters every week for the money！
Thus Rawdon knew nothing about the brilliant diamond
ear…rings； or the superb brilliant ornament which
decorated the fair bosom of his lady； but Lord Steyne；
who was in his place at Court； as Lord of the Powder
Closet； and one of the great dignitaries and illustrious
defences of the throne of England； and came up with all
his stars； garters； collars； and cordons； and paid particular
attention to the little woman； knew whence the jewels
came and who paid for them。
As he bowed over her he smiled； and quoted the
hackneyed and beautiful lines from The Rape of the Lock
about Belinda's diamonds； 〃which Jews might kiss and
infidels adore。〃
〃But I hope your lordship is orthodox；〃 said the little
lady with a toss of her head。 And many ladies round
about whispered and talked； and many gentlemen nodded
and whispered； as they saw what marked attention the
great nobleman was paying to the little adventuress。
What were the circumstances of the interview between
Rebecca Crawley； nee Sharp； and her Imperial Master；
it does not become such a feeble and inexperienced pen
as mine to attempt to relate。 The dazzled eyes close
before that Magnificent Idea。 Loyal respect and decency tell
even the imagination not to look too keenly and audaciously
about the sacred audience…chamber； but to back away
rapidly； silently； and respectfully； making profound
bows out of the August Presence。
This may be said； that in all London there was no
more loyal heart than Becky's after this interview。 The
name of her king was always on her lips； and he was
proclaimed by her to be the most charming of men。 She
went to Colnaghi's and ordered the finest portrait of him
that art had produced； and credit could supply。 She chose
that famous one in which the best of monarchs is
represented in a frock…coat with a fur collar； and breeches
and silk stockings； simpering on a sofa from under his
curly brown wig。 She had him painted in a brooch and
wore itindeed she amused and somewhat pestered her
acquaintance with her perpetual talk about his urbanity
and beauty。 Who knows！ Perhaps the little woman
thought she might play the part of a Maintenon or a
Pompadour。
But the finest sport of all after her presentation was to
hear her talk virtuously。 She had a few female acquaintances；
not； it must be owned； of the very highest reputation
in Vanity Fair。 But being made an honest woman of；
so to speak； Becky would not consort any longer with
these dubious ones； and cut Lady Crackenbury when the
latter nodded to her from her opera…box； and gave Mrs。
Washington White the go…by in the Ring。 〃One must； my
dear； show one is somebody；〃 she said。 〃One mustn't be
seen with doubtful people。 I pity Lady Crackenbury from
my heart； and Mrs。 Washington White may be a very
good…natured person。 YOU may go and dine with them；
as you like your rubber。 But I mustn't； and won't； and
you will have the goodness to tell Smith to say I am not
at home when either of them calls。〃
The particulars of Becky's costume were in the newspapers
feathers； lappets； superb diamonds； and all the
rest。 Lady Crackenbury read the paragraph in bitterness
of spirit and discoursed to her followers about the airs
which that woman was giving herself。 Mrs。 Bute Crawley
and her young ladies in the country had a copy of the
Morning Post from town； and gave a vent to their honest
indignation。 〃If you had been sandy…haired； green…eyed；
and a French rope…dancer's daughter；〃 Mrs。 Bute said
to her eldest girl （who； on the contrary； was a very
swarthy； short； and snub…nosed young lady）； 〃You might
have had superb diamonds forsooth； and have been
presented at Court by your cousin； the Lady Jane。 But you're
only a gentlewoman； my poor dear child。 You have only
some of the best blood in England in your veins； and
good principles and piety for your portion。 I； myself；
the wife of a Baronet's younger brother； too； never
thought of such a thing as going to Courtnor would
other people； if good Queen Charlotte had been alive。〃
In this way the worthy Rectoress consoled herself； and
her daughters sighed and sat over the Peerage all night。
A few days after the famous presentation； another
great and exceeding honour was vouchsafed to the
virtuous Becky。 Lady Steyne's carriage drove up to Mr。
Rawdon Crawley's door； and the footman； instead of driving
down the front of the house； as by his tremendous
knocking he appeared to be inclined to do； relented and only
delivered in a couple of cards； on which were engraven
the names of the Marchioness of Steyne and the
Countess of Gaunt。 If these bits of pasteboard had been
beautiful pictures； or had had a hundred yards of Malines lace
rolled round them； worth twice the number of guineas；
Becky could not have regarded them with more pleasure。
You may be sure they occupied a conspicuous place in
the china bowl on the drawing…room table； where Becky
kept the cards of her visitors。 Lord！ lord！ how poor
Mrs。 Washington White's card and Lady Crackenbury's
cardwhich our little friend had been glad enough to
get a few months back； and of which the silly little
creature was rather proud onceLord！ lord！ I say； how soon
at the appearance of these grand court cards； did those
poor little neglected deuces sink down to the bottom of
the pack。 Steyne！ Bareacres； Johnes of Helvellyn！ and
Caerylon of Camelot！ we may be sure that Becky and
Briggs looked out those august names in the Peerage；
and followed the noble races up through all the
ramifications of the family tree。
My Lord Steyne coming to call a couple of hours
afterwards； and look