Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 271: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

him the necklace which had just been taken from Hazel’s trunk, to corroborate her statements. “You say that she claims it as her own?” he asked, with some surprise, when she concluded, and remem- bering that Mrs. Stewart had worn such a necklace the evening previous. ‘Yes, my lord,’ interposed the officer, with a know- ing look; ‘but of course you and [ both know that a girl working for her living would not be likely to own anything go valuable as that.” But Lord Nelson did not appear to be as skeptical as those about him; he was also very pale, and his lips were compressed with a look of pain. “Will you allow me to ask Miss Gay a few ques- tions?’ he inquired of the officer, and moving nearer Hazel. “Oh, certainly, your lordship; as many as you like, provided you do not detain us too long. I must dis- pose of my fair prisoner in season to return to Lon- don on the evening train,’ the detective replied, obligingly, “Will you tell me, as briefly as you can, your story about the necklace?’ Lord Nelson asked kindly of Hazel, while he searched her face earnestly, but paid no heed to Mrs, Stewart or Helena, who. betrayed some displeasure at his interference, and his interest in the culprit. Hazel came near losing her self-possession as she met his sympatizing eyes; but, conquering herself with an effort, she repeated in substance what she had already related up stairs, “You have had this necklace in your possession ever since you were three years old ?” he asked, when she had concluded. “Oh, no; not intmy personal possession; only since the death of the light-house keeper. He took charge of it for me until then, when, at my earnest solicita- tion, it was given to me, although I w&S"UkPPsecwy