The Placer herald., 1857-10-31
Diamond Cut Diamond.

diamond Cut Diamond.
Most Of our readers are aware that there
exists in Paris-that world of deceivers and
fashionable follies-many an artisan who is
able to initiate the character and appearance
OF precious stones so accurately that it is
next to impossible for even the best inform.
ed jewelers. to detect the imposition, save BY
actual imposition of the most extraordinary
tests.
At the present time, one NJ. Bourguigon is
considered at the head Of the profession" in
this line, and his establishment is the con-
slant resort Of fashionable men and women
who, meeting with the reverse Of fortune
and desirous to keep up appearances, wal,
upon him mysteriously or confdentially with
orders for limitations jewels of various kinds
in lieu of the genuine articles which they
have been forced to dispose Of.
A correspondent of the Boston Bee, now
in Paris, gives curious account Of Bour-
guigons great house, and relates the follow,
ing bit OF romance in connection with this
subject, which, decidedly Frenchy in its char
acter, displays woman's cunning and non-
chafonce quite equal to the prominent traits
OF "cleverness" possessed by Mrs. Cunning
ham heraef The correspondent says:
A few months ago, just at nightfall, here,
a splendid carriage halted before the door of
one Of these establishments, and lady,
deeply veiled, stepped from the vehicle into
the store, inquring for Monsieur Il, the
senior proprietor of the house, who immedi-
aely presented himself
Monsieur" said the lady, in a low tone,
"you are a purchaser of jewels?"
"Yes, Matlanie," was the response
"Will your examine this diamond necklace,
Monsieur"
"Wilh great pleasure, Madame" said the
polite jewelel, and taking from the hand of
the lady a handsome ca>ket, he pointed Ter
to a seat and sent for Lis chief lapilary, in
whose judgment he implicitly confded
The connoissieur in precious stones imme-
diately responded.
"Gesnier," said the merchant, "here is a
necklace of diamonds, which you will ex-
anime carefully and report to us as to the
value of the stones. You will see that the
setti is antique and novel; | have never
met with its like. The owner wishes to dis
pose of it,"
The lapidary bowed, took the necklace and
disappeared, as the jeweer advanced ard
took a seat beside the lady, to learn further
particulars
you are often called upop," remarked
the strange lady, mildly, "to furnish other
ornaments in lieu Of the genuine, monsieur,
are you not!'
"Yes, madame, frequently. This forms a
large item in our business transactions"
II am desirous Of disposing of the neck
lace you are testing, and also wish to pro-
cure another to be made in imitation of this.
Can you accommodate me?"
"Nothing is easier, madame"
GLOW much time will you require, mon
seur?"
"Ten days, madame"
"The setting, you will observe, is peculiar"
"That fact did not escape my observation,
madame. Ordinarily, a week would suffice.
In this case, should say ten or twelve days
would be necessary to accomplish your order
satisfactorily"
"And you must retain the genuine article
until the other is completed!"
"Yes, madame-in order to render the
imitation perfect"
"The necklace l bring you," remarked the
visitor in confidential way lis an heirloom.
But adversely at last compels me to part with
it. | would have an exact counterpart of it,
monsieur, in order that my husband, my
family, and my friends, can never suspect the
shift to which ! am now most reluctantly
driven"
I'VE can appreciate your unfortunate posi-
tion, madame, readily, I assure yop. You
are by no means alone in your reverses.
The necklace we shall furnish you shall be
50 like the original as to defy suspicion.
Upon this we pride ourselves; and YOU may
rest tranquil upon that point"
The lapidary had examined the costly bau
BILE, and after little private conversation
among the partners, its current pprchasable
value was decided at thirty-five thousand
francs. The cunning jeweler really deemed
it worth double that sum, upon therepresen-
tatiops made by bis confidential lapidary,
whose opinion with him was law. But be
saw the urgency Of the case, and also saw
the apparent east. With which be might 'drive
real bargain"
"Thirty.6ve thousand francs," said the
lady, with q well-dissembled tope of disap-
pointment; ''jts cost, originally, was tysble
that amount"
"And 20 it might have been, madams--in
that expensive style OF setting, at period
SO remots as you spssk of," rejoined the Jew.
sl'e, b'and'y. "Sut a. the present day"