“‘I do not know why you should choose to employ the word hidden unless you take pleasure in making insulting insinuations. I dare say the thief who stole that picture might have taken many others from the same place if she had tried, for I am sure there were many others there!’
“‘Did not Mr. Bowles give you this picture in exchange for yours, which was found in his possession?’
“‘In the first place, I did not know he had my picture in his possession, for I am sure I never gave it to him.’
“‘Now, Mrs. Ragland, don’t you remember that you had your picture put in a costly gold locket for the express purpose of presenting it to Mr. Bowles?’
“‘I do not remember anything of the sort: Mr. Bowles may have purchased a gold locket, and he may have bought one of my pictures, but I know he never received one from me.’
“‘Please examine this locket, Mrs. Ragland, and then tell me whether or not you gave it to Benjamin Bowles.’
“‘I never saw it until this moment.’
“‘You see that the words, “From Victoria to Benjamin” are engraved on the back of this locket; now, can you explain why the name of Victoria should appear on this locket, when you swear that your name is Helen?’
“‘Why should you expect me to be able to explain it any more than you could, when you have just heard me say that I never saw that locket until this moment? Mr. Bowles could very easily put my picture in any sort of a case he pleased, and if he chooses to put it into a locket containing another person’s name, it does not in any manner disturb me.’
“‘Mrs. Ragland, do you not know that you had that locket made to order, about two years ago, at the house of F. H. Clark?’