The Eustace Diamonds · Chapter
Bunfit and Gager explained
Frank Greystock confronts John Eustace and Mr.
What happens
Frank Greystock confronts John Eustace and Mr. Camperdown over the Eustace diamonds, but gets no satisfaction. Meanwhile, detectives Bunfit and Gager debate theories about the diamond theft: Bunfit suspects Lizzie is complicit and may still have the diamonds, while Gager believes professional thieves were duped. Lizzie faints when a search is proposed, clutching her key, which Bunfit notices. She refuses to surrender her keys, and the chapter ends with the police investigation intensifying under public scrutiny.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Perjury
Lizzie's fainting and key-clutching suggest she is hiding the truth; the detectives debate whether the robbery was staged.
Property and Ownership
The central dispute over the Eustace diamonds: whether they belong to Lizzie or the estate, and who bears responsibility for their loss.
Truth vs. Appearance
Lizzie's faint appears genuine but may be a calculated act; the detectives' conflicting theories highlight the gap between surface events and underlying reality.
Characters to notice
- Frank Greystock
Defends his cousin Lizzie against John Eustace and Mr. Camperdown, but fails to sway them; vents frustration on Lord Fawn.
- Lizzie Eustace
Faints when a search is proposed; clutches her key, betraying her anxiety; refuses to surrender her keys despite pressure.
- Mrs. Carbuncle
Assents to the search proposal, causing Lizzie to faint; later orders Bunfit to leave.
- Mr. Bunfit
Investigates the theft; theorizes Lizzie is complicit and may still have the diamonds; notices Lizzie's key-clutching.
- Mr. Gager
Young detective who disputes Bunfit's theory; believes professional thieves were duped in a double robbery.
- Lord George de Bruce Carruthers
Suspected by both Bunfit and Gager of being involved in the diamond theft.
Key passages
“Bunfit, when he returned from Mrs. Carbuncle’s house to Scotland Yard, had an interview with Major Mackintosh. “Well, Bunfit, have you seen the lady?” “Yes—I did see her, sir.” “And what came of it?” “She fainted away, sir—just as they always do.””
Bunfit reports to Major Mackintosh that Lizzie fainted during his visit, a common reaction he observes in such cases.
Highlights Bunfit's suspicion and the routine nature of fainting in police interviews.
““I ain’t noways sure as she ain’t got them very diamonds themselves locked up, or, perhaps, tied round her person.””
Bunfit suspects Lizzie may have the diamonds hidden on her person or locked away.
Reveals Bunfit's theory that Lizzie is directly involved in hiding the diamonds.
“According to Gager’s information, Smiler was at this moment a brokenhearted man—ranging between mad indignation and suicidal despondency, because he had been treated with treachery in some direction.”
Gager believes Smiler is distraught because he was betrayed in the diamond scheme.
Supports Gager's theory of a double-cross among the thieves.