The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-03-16 00:00:00

47 TEMPT dr tiII'INPLING.

An ingenious attempt at swindling was, a few days
ago, made in Brussels. A soi-disaat Getman Rarest in-
troduced 1 self to Mr. Troyatix, one of the principal
lace-manufacturers here, and well known for his humane
attention to the British wounded after the battle of
ll'aterloo. The Baron stated, that he had a commission
from a person of distinction at Petersburgh, for the par-
demo. of Brussels lace, to the au 44444 nt of 15,Mal francs,
and fur the payieseot of which he was directed to draw
hills of exchange on an eminent banker at Urchin, at 15
days sight, referring hien for their validity to a money-
dealer in that town, whose rect 11111 l :etiolation, though
strung, was not thought satisfactory. Mr. Travaux
would only consent to deliver up the goods when die ac-
eeptance of the hills should he duly nu!iiird. Hereupon
the Karon stated, that a rherernmeot e,mrier being upon
the point of proceeding to Petershurgh, he was anxious
to fornanl the lace by so favourable an opportunity,
and proposed, as a collateral wearily, to give him, in
the mean time, bills of exchange drawn upon and ac-
cepted by the Architect of His Holiness the Pope at
Rome, for 17,000 francs. Mr. T., however, determined
to confine himself to the Berlin transaction, but sug-
gested, that the Baron might select the lace, and leave
it, sealed, in Mr. T.'s possession mita the bills should
he negociated. This was, with sonic difficulty, acceded
to, and the Baron promised to .all next day to complete
the purchase. In the evening a note arrived, stating
the Baron's incapacity to keep his appointment, from
having severely spraieted his ankle by a fall, and beg-
Fing 31r. T. to come to him with the.lare next morning,
in order to avoid delay. On arriving at the &rot.,
hotel he found him in bed, supported by volumes of
pillows, the curtains half drawn. They proceeded to
business, in spite of the invalid's sufferings from his
caterer. The lace was selected with gnat care and
di bargaining, the Baron being extremely solicitous
of not exceeding, in the least, the amount of his com-
mission. The bills were drawn, and the merehandize
deposited in a carton (band-box) ready oil the table,
iloastear k Baron condescending, though unaccustom-
ed to such work, to tie it up with his own hands.—
He begged Mr. T. (in the absence of the raiet)
to tall Therese with a borgie, in order to seal
the box hermetically, with the Baron's coat of arms
of sixteen quart rinds! Mr. Trovaux was absent
only a few seconds. Therese made her appearance
with a siker candlestick; and while the Baron was
going on with his operations, Mr. T. espied the corner
of a blue carton peeping from the Huron's rear, the at-
titude of which had by this time changed. Suspicions
were immediately awakened, but Mr. T. having fresh
on his memory the Paris massacre, mentally beheld an
assassin lurking in each armoire! With great prudence
he whispered the fair atteadast, in the anti-chamber, to
call up the Lord of the 1110111ifM.
On his appearance the Baron stopped short, changed
colour, and 'hewed every symptom of trepidation. la
a faultering tune lie earnestly requested that the host
might withdraw, " having," said he, " matters of im-
portance for Mr. T.'s private ear." This of course '
changed doubt to certainty, and sansfaroa, Mr. T. cat
open the band-box destine) to his care, which contained
wadding in the room of lace! the Baron having, by a
dexterous feat of legerdemain, conveyed the valuables
among the pillows!
A fall confeasiou of his intended escrorterie ensued,