The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-10-13

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is a necklace of diamonds which you will
examine carefully, and report to us as to
the value of the stones. You will see
that the setting is antique and novel. l
have never met with its like. The owner
wishes to dispose of it"
The lapidary bowed, took the necklace,
and disappeared, as the jewsler advanced
and took seat beside tho lady, to learn
further particulars.
"You are often called upon" remarked
the strange lady, mildly, "to furnish other
ornaments in lieu of the genuine, monsieur
--sre you not p
"Yes, madam, frequently. This forms
large item in our business transactions"
Il am desirous of disposing of the neck.
lace you are testing, and l also wish to
procure another to be made in imitation
of this. Can you accommodate me ?"
Nothing is easier, madam"
How much time will you require,
nonsieurf'
"Ten days, madam"
"The setting, you will observe, is Pc
ouliar."
"The fact did not escape my observa-
ton, madam. Ordinarily, week would
suffice us. In this case, should say ten
or 'weve day. would be necessary to sc-
complish your order satisfactorily"
And you must retain the genuine
article until the other is completed p
"Yes, madam, In order TO render the
imitation perfect"
The necklace I bring you" remarked
the visitor in confidential way, is an
heirloom. But adversity compels ME at
last to part with it. would have an ex.
act counterpart Of it, monsieur, in order
that my husband, my family, my friends,
can never suspect the theft to which am
now most reluctantly driven"
1--WE can appreciate your unfortunate
position, madam, readily, 1 assure you.
You are by no means alone in your re-.
verses. The necklace wo shall furnish
you shall be 60 like the original as to defy
suspicion. Upon this we pride ourselves:
and you may rest tranquil on that point.
The lapidary had examined the costly
bauble, and after little private converse.
ton among the partners, its current pur.
chasable value was decided Mt thirty five
thousand frances. The cunning jeweler
really deemed it worth double that some
upon the representations made by his con.
fdential lapidary, whose opinion with him
was law. But he saw the urgency of the
case, aud also saw the apparent easo with
which he might, in this instance, " drive o
real bargain"
Tairty-fve thousand francs" said thu
lady, with well.dissembled tone of dis
appointment " its cost, originally, wa
treble that amount"
And SO it might have been, madam
in that expensive style OF setting, at
0 period 80 remote as you sposk Of" rejoinet
8 the jewelsr, blandly. but, At the presen
o day"
Exactly monsieur" replied the lady
+ But jewels are jewels. Surely, sue
n stones as these do not depreoiats thus i
o value by lapse of years"
# After much more explanation and dil
sertation regarding the form and presor
!. value of precious stones, another eramini
}. ton by the lapidary, and another conio
/. snce between the partners, it was agree
. that they should allow the lady fort
A. thousand francs for the necklace, whic
. offer she at length with great reluctan'
i. assented to.
i. And your pros tor the other ?" askt
IF the stranger .-....
10 "Three thousand four hundred fra ances
To this the lady assontsd.
., Would they entertain any objectiC
Of to advancing the lady ten thousand franc
10 upon tho basis of the trade madet''
IN "None whatever" .,. .
~ And so they parted, the lady taking
n receipt for her diamond necklace, and
he check for ten thousand francs on accour
I'd while the Messieurs H--chuckled lu
IT. lily over their bargain. On their pa
they also agreed to have tho imitsti
a article ready for the lady within a 70
or night and promised not to expose I
Nv genuine necklace for sale for twel,
ia month.
ur The visitor at any one Of the best ests
Ise lishments of this character. in Paris, v
be astonished at the magnificent displ
ow made and he will wonder more at
nrecision and n;cetv which mark the