The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-09-02

perfect ease been conveyed into an
adjoining apartment.
The despair of the unfortunate
jeweller may be easily conceived.
The master of tho hotel, too, who
had let his apartment to the pretend
ed Prince Gargarian, had been ex-
tensively swindled. The servants all
belonging to the hotel, with the ex.
ception Of the vulet de chambre, who
was tho companion and the confedc.
rate of tho Prince.
1T was ascertained that they had
decampcd in coach, from the door
of tho hotel. Every excrtion was
made to trace them out, but several
years elapsed before they were dis
covered. The jcweller who was near
ly ruined by this robbery, removed
to another quarter of Paris, and cs.
tabliehed himself under a new name.
One { day q, a messenger called on him
from NJ. T, q gentleman hold
ing an official station, who was very
i'll, and wished to purchase some
rings. The poor jeweller had natu.
rally become suspicious ever since
his fatal adventure with Prince Gar
garin; and instead of sending his
shopman, he took the rings himself.
He was shown into bed.chamber,
which was partially lighted owing; to
the situation Of the windows the
room was all in shade, except in
that whero the bed stood. What was
the surprise Of the jcwcllcr, when he
discovered in the invalid Nj. T,
the swindler, who had some years
prcviously y defrauded him in the as.
sumcd character Of the Russian
Prince Gargar;n! For few moments
he,was struck dumb with amazemcnt
However he recovered himself, and
deemingit prudent not to betray the
discovery he had made, he displayed
his rings; several were selected, and
their price amounted to about six
thousand francs.
1T is a large sum for poor ruined
man, shid M. Z. Y have not
ready cash sufficient to settle the
whole amount, and I shall feel OBJ.
liged if you will take in payment this
curious old snuff box, which is Of
great value
lie asked for his dressing case,
and opening it, took out an octagon
shaped China snuff box, set in gold
and rubics. 1t was perfectly unique;
and Of incstimablc value. On behold
ing it, the jeweller we'll nigh betray-
cd himself. The snuff box which NJ.
T presented to him, was one
which had been stolen from him a
few days before the robbery of his
diamonds. The box was too re-
markablc to admit of the possibility
Of mistake. Besides it had secret
spring, by means of which all the
miniatures could be taken out of
their sittings, and on the rcverscs
were painted similar subjects, but
treated in the style Of indclicacy PC
culiar to the age Of Louis XIV. This
circumstance was important in proof
OF his claim to the possession of
the box. When NJ. 7 asked
him to set value on it, he said with
out hesitation-'I consider it worth
more than fifty thousand francs
Fifty thousand francs..' exclaimed
NJ. i; i thought it valuable,
but this far exceeds my expectation
of it,
Sir resumed the jcwellcr, Il will
not rctract what l have said. | am
an expert dealer, and to me it may
be worth far more than the sum |
have fixed. l vii, make this promo.
sltion to you: you shall take the rings
you have selected, and you shall put
the box under an envelope, stating
it to be my property; and if it does
not bring more than fifty thousand
francs, you shall have my rings for
nothing.
NJ. t was completely blinded
by this deep laid scheme. lie was
good connoisseur of objects Of virtu,
and nc was not little gratifcd to
lind his box so much over valued, and
to be able to obtain tho rings without
opening his purse. Tho most cxag.
gcratod valuation of the snuff box
would scarcely have exceeded seven
or eight thousand francs. lie sent
for two of his ncighbors one Of
whom was notary, and tho matter
was arranged coniormably with the
jewellers proposition. This being
done the invalid said
3Who will fix the price of tho box?'
You SIR cody replied tho jewel.
lcr.
'Alc? you are jcsting.
4 assure you, sir, am quite scri.