The Lady from Nowhere Author:Fergus Hume Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST As desired, Gebb looked at the gaily decked figure in the chair, and tried to find out what Mrs. Presk meant " Well, ... more »I'm looking," he said at length, " but I'm blest if I can see anything." " Of course you can't!" cried the landlady, hysterically triumphant, "'cause they ain't there 1" "What aren't there?" " The diamonds !" " Diamonds 1" repeated Gebb, with a start, as he noted that the dead woman wore no jewellery. " Had she diamonds ? " " I should think she had !" said Mrs. Presk, sitting down again. " Stars for her hair, rings, bracelets, and the loveliest necklace you ever saw—just like dewdrops with the sun on them. She wore her jewellery every night, and all to eat her chop. I saw them diamonds on her afore I went to the lecture." " And when you came back they were gone." " Every one of them," replied Mrs. Fresk, defiantly, " and when I noticed it—for, to own up, Mr, Gebb,I didn't notice they were gone till I was here with you talking about her dress—but when I did notice, I ran out of the room 'cause I was a-feared you might say 'Tilda and I stole "em." " Nonsense! Why should I say that ? " " Oh, there ain't no tellings," said Mrs. Presk, with a toss of her head. " Was that why you made all that howling ? " "Yes, it was, sir; and I ran out to the kitchen to ask 'Tilda if she had noticed if the diamonds were gone when we came in first; for I was that flurried I didn't look for 'em." " And does 'Tilda say the diamonds were gone ? " " Yes! I dessay the murdering villain who killed the poor dear stole 'em. I wish I had the hanging of him." " Oh, you may assist me to put the rope round his neck," said Gebb. " Well, Mrs. Presk, I'll come and see you to-morrow, and you must tell me all you know about this...« less