Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 296: what you’re looking at

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

Percy’s evidence did not ye oad to have the weight and influence they had confidently anticipated. In- deed, the opposing counsel did not: hesitate to say— even as Hazel had at first feared—that it looked like @ poorly trumped-up affair without a shadow of tan- gibie evidence to substantiate it. The deception that they had practiced did not redound tothe credit of either, in spite of the fair prisoner's pretty story of self-sacrifice for the sake of the young doctor's reputation. They had no way of Brora that any necklace or money had been found upon Miss Gay's person when she had been saved from that ainking vessel—if indeed there had been any sinking vessel in the first place—saye Mr, Morton's word, which, in his opinion, was worth no .iwore than that of Miss Gay, They had both admitted that neither the light-housekeener’s asaistantuor his housekeeper had known of those treasures, all knowledge of them having been carefully concealed from them. Thus he went on, taking up point after point in Percy's evidencr, and calmly rebutting it, showing in a logical: way that nothing had been really proved in Hazel's favor, after all, and that the case stood coves where if had done previous to its adjourn- ment, Percy looked blank, and the duchess and Lord Nel aon were almost In déspair. Hazel’s counsel) made his final plea, and it was an eloquent argument in her defense. The judge then gave his charge, and thejury withdrew to consult upon the verdict. They were not gone long, though it seemed ages to those anxious hearts who were trembling for Hazel’s fate, and the grave expression on their faces, as they filed back to their places, did not serve to reassure them. But, just at this moment, there was a slight atir in the rear of the room near the door, and a woman en- tered and made her way with eager steps toward the judge, while an expression of astonishment rested on many a face at her uppearance. gomichooksicem