The Argosy — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

The Diamond Bracelet. 73 Gerard Hope looked at her: little trace of shame was there in his countenance. ‘ Lady Sarah,” he asked, in a deep tone, “can you indeed deem me capable of taking your bracelet ?” ‘The bracelet was there, sir; and it went; and you can’t deny it,” cried the colonel. | “The bracelet was there, sure enough,” assented Gerard. “I held it in my hand for two or three minutes, and was talking to Miss Seaton about it. I told her I wished it was mine—and I said what I should do with it if it was.” : “Oh, Mr. Hope, pray say no more,” involuntarily interrupted Alice. “What do you want to screen him for?” impetuously broke forth the colonel, turning upon Alice. ‘Let him say what he was going to Say.” “T do not know why I should not say it,” Gerard Hope answered, in his spirit of bravado, which he disdained to check. “I said I should pledge it.” “You'll send off to every pawnbroker’s in the metropolis, before the night’s over, Mr. Officer,” cried the choking colonel, breathless with rage. ‘* This beats brass.” “But I did not take it any the more for having said that,’’ put in Gerard, ina graver tone. ‘“ The remark might have been made by any one, from a duke downwards, if reduced to his last shifts, as lam. lI said zf it were mine: I did not say I would steal it. Nor did I.” “T saw him put it down again,” said Alice Seaton, in a calm, steady voice. | ‘‘ Allow me to speak a word, colonel,’ resumed Lady Sarah, inter- rupting what her husband was about to say. ‘‘Gerard—I cannot believe you guilty ; but consider the circumstances. ‘The bracelet was there: you acknowledge it: Miss Seaton left the apartment when you did, and went into the front room, and stayed there with the bracelets in view. Yet when I came up from dinner, it was gone.” The colonel would speak. ‘So it lies between you and Miss Seaton, ’ he put in. ‘Perhaps you would like us to believe she appropriated ite ‘““No,” answered Gerard, with a flashing eye. ‘Se cannot be doubted. I would rather take the guilt upon myself, than allow her to be suspected. Believe me, Lady Sarah, we are both innocent.” “The bracelet could not have gone without hands to take it, Gerard,”’ replied Lady Sarah. ‘‘ How else do you account for its disappearance?” ~“T believe there must be some misapprehension, some great mistake, in the affair altogether, Lady Sarah. It appears incomprehensible now, but it will be unravelled.” ‘Ay, and in double-quick time,” wrathfully exclaimed the colonel. ‘You must think you are talking to a pack of idiots, Master Gerard. Here the bracelet was spread temptingly out on a table ; you went into CORnICEOOO <S CO im