And there by dint of wear it grew less black, and showed a little of the metal underneath, and at last I took to polishing it at odd times, until it came out quite white and shiny, like the pure silver that it was.

Elzevir had seen this locket when he put me to bed the first time I came to the Why Not?
and afterwards I told him whence I got it; but though we had it out more than once of an evening, we could never come at any hidden meaning.
Indeed, we scarce tried to, judging it to be certainly a sacred charm to keep evil spirits from Blackbeard's body..