The Argosy — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

362 The Missing Rubtes. mention her name. He gave her a chair, and she seated herself with- out a word. Nor did he bestow any greeting beyond a distant bow upon the Lindricks and old Redburn. Caroline had sunk down into the corner of a couch, placed almost at the end of the long room. She had got her daughter’s hand, and was holding it fast. Her face was still colourless; her breath came so quickly that Olga, frightened and astonished, looked round for a smelling-bottle. But the two elder sisters were absorbed; and Caroline had to struggle with her agitation alone. ‘“‘ My friend Earle has promised,” said Count Gliska (no longer Vordenberg), ‘to leave the task of his vindication in my hands. About myself, I have only a few words to say. After my escape from my enemies, I took refuge with my father’s old friend in Vienna— a Mr. Vordenberg—and with him I spent several quiet years. He died, leaving me all that he possessed ; and, for certain reasons of my own, I adopted his name when I came to England. It is not necessary to enter into those reasons at this moment, for they have nothing whatever to do with the matter which we have in hand. I am here to prove Godwin Earle’s innocence of the crime that has been so - wrongfully imputed to him; and the first witness I shall call is Mr. Burnett, the well-known jeweller and silversmith of Bond Street. Thus’ summoned, the white-haired man came quietly forward. The Countess, still panting in her corner, gave Olga’s hand a convul- sive pressure that almost made the girl scream. “It is exactly six years ago,” Burnett began, “since a Russian nobleman, Count Gradizoff by name, came into my shop with an old customer of mine, who introduced him to me. The Count’s errand was soon explained. He had come to dispose of a valuable ruby necklace. I invited him to step into my private room; and there the necklace was produced in the presence of myself and my partner.” He paused, and took out of his breast-pocket a flat leather case, which he held unopened in his hand. ‘© When the necklace was shown to me,” he continued, “I recog- nised it at once as the one which had belonged to Count Gliska. Many years before, when I had had occasion to visit Warsaw, I had seen the Count, and had bought from him some old family plate. He .had shown me his jewels, and I had minutely examined this necklace. The rubies are very fine—his initials are engraved on the clasp, which is a curious piece of workmanship.” Going towards a table, Burnett opened the case, and laid it down for everyone to see. (To be concluded.) comicbooks.com