# Certainly an Heirloom explained — The Eustace Diamonds > Chapter companion for The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens Lord Fawn, tormented by the legal and social implications of Lizzie's claim to the Eustace diamonds, seeks counsel from Frank Greystock. Frank, acting as Lizzie's champion, confronts Lord Fawn and secures a promise that the engagement will continue pending a legal inquiry into the diamonds' status. A meeting at Mr. Camperdown's chambers reveals the complex history of the jewels, which were declared an heirloom by a previous Sir Florian but have passed through several hands without formal documentation. Frank also visits Lady Fawn, creating tension due to her dislike of Lizzie. The chapter explores the legal confusion surrounding the diamonds and the personal conflicts they generate. ## Themes in this chapter ### Property and Ownership The central conflict revolves around whether the diamonds are Lizzie's personal property or an inalienable heirloom of the Eustace family, highlighting the legal and moral complexities of ownership. ### Deception and Perjury Lizzie repeatedly fabricates the story that Sir Florian gave her the diamonds as her own, a lie she maintains to Frank and others to secure her claim. ### Marriage as Transaction Lord Fawn's engagement to Lizzie is contingent on the diamonds' fate, revealing marriage as a transactional arrangement tied to property and social standing. ## Character check-ins ### Lizzie Eustace Repeats her fabricated story to Frank that Sir Florian gave her the diamonds as her own property, insisting they were made an heirloom to her. ### Frank Greystock Acts as Lizzie's legal and personal champion, confronting Lord Fawn and demanding the engagement be upheld; later attends a meeting at Mr. Camperdown's chambers. ### Lord Fawn Tormented by the dilemma, seeks Frank's counsel but fears Frank as a political enemy; reluctantly agrees to maintain the engagement pending legal resolution. ### Mr. Camperdown Investigates the diamonds' history, discovering the heirloom declaration in old Sir Florian's will and the confusion over subsequent inheritances. ### John Eustace Present at the meeting in Mr. Camperdown's chambers as the heir or representative of the Eustace estate. ### Lucy Morris Mentioned as Frank's future bride; Frank visited her at Richmond and was welcomed by Lady Fawn, though tension arose over Lizzie. ## Key lines > If it was an heirloom he couldn’t do it,” Frank had said, with all the confidence of a practising barrister. “He made it over as an heirloom to me,” said Lizzie, with plaintive tenderness. Frank asserts that Sir Florian could not legally make the diamonds an heirloom for Lizzie, while Lizzie insists he did so. _Highlights the legal dispute and Lizzie's deceptive claim._ > The burden of his position was so heavy on Lord Fawn’s mind that, on the Monday morning after leaving Fawn Court, he was hardly as true to the affairs of India as he himself would have wished. Lord Fawn is so preoccupied with the diamond dilemma that he cannot focus on his official duties at the India Office. _Illustrates the personal and professional pressure on Lord Fawn._ > He would give all this up—love, income, beauty, and castle—without a doubt, rather than find himself in the mess of having married a wife who had stolen a necklace, and who would not make restitution. Lord Fawn would rather forfeit the marriage and its benefits than be associated with a wife who might be a thief. _Reveals Lord Fawn's fear of scandal and his prioritization of reputation._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_eustace_diamonds_se/chapters/xvi-certainly-an-heirloom - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_eustace_diamonds_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_eustace_diamonds_se/chapters