Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-03
THE DAILY PRESS.
TrtspAY....................sEPFsM ..........,
A Spanish Lady and Her Jewels,

immediate want Of a small sum Of money.
Don - being her friend, and respect
able merchant, she went to him to state her
necessities, and offered him case Of valu-
able Jewels as security for her repayment
provided he would advance her eight hun
dred dollars. He agreed and the bargain
was concluded without any written docu-
ment, the lady depositng her jewels and
receiving the sum.
At the end of few months, her tempo
rary difficulties being ended, she went to
her friends house to repay the money and
receive back the jewels. The man readily
received the money, but declared to the
astonished lady that, as to the jewels, he
had never heard of them, and that no such
transaction had taken place.
The sonora, indignant at the merchants
treachery, instantly repaired to the palace
of the Viceroy, hoping for justice from this
Western Solomon, though unable to conceive
how it could be obtained. She was in
stantly received by Count Revillagigado,
who listened attentively to the account of
the circumstances.
',Have you no witness?" said the Count.
"None," replied she.
"Did no servants pass in or out during
the transaction
"No one"
The Viceroy reflected q moment.
''Does your friend smoke ?'
"No, sir, said the lady, astonished at the
strange question.
"Does he take snuff" asked the Viceroy.
ayes, your excellency" said the visitor,
who feared that his excellency's wits were
wool gathering.
"That is sufficient" said the Viceroy.
"Retire into the adjoining chamber and
keep quiet your jewels shall be restored"
His excellency then dispatched messen-
ger for the merchant, who Immediately pre-
sented himself.
81 have sent for you," said the Viceroy,
"that we may talk over some matters, in
which your mercantile knowledge may be
Of use to the State"
The merchant was overwhelmed with
gratitude and Joy; while the Viceroy en-
tered into conversation with him upon va
rious affairs connected with his profession.
Suddenly the Viceroy put his hand first
into one pocket then into the other, with |
the air of a man who had mislaid some |
thing.
"Ah.' said he, Tiny snuff-boxl Excuse
me for a moment, while fetch it from the
other room."
"Sir,' said the merchant 'permit me to
have the honor of offering my box to your
excellency.'
His excellency received it, as if mechan
ically holding it in his hand and talking,
till, pretending some business he went out,
and calling an officer, desired him to take
that snuff box to the merchant house, ask
ing his wife as from him, by that token, to
deliver the bearer a .ewel-case which he
had received from the merchants wife.
Revillagigado returned to his fair COM
plainant, and, under the pretence of show
ing her some rooms in the palace, led her
into one where, among many other objects
of value, the jewel-case stood open.
No sooner had she cast her eye upon il
than she started forward in joy and amaze
ment. The Viceroy requested her to wait
there o little longer, and returned to his
other guest.
"Now," said he, "before going farther, l
wish to hear the truth concerning another
affair in which you are interested. Are
you acquainted with the Sonora de-Y
Intimately, sir; she is my frieudH
"Did you lend her eight hundred dollars
at such date ?"
81 did"
"Did she give you a case Of jewels in
pledge"
'Never!" said the merchant vehemently. |
''The money was lent without any security, |
merely an act of friendship; and she has |
invented q story, concerning some jewels, |
which has not the slightest foundation"
In vain the Viceroy begged him to reflect,
and not, by adding falsehood to treachery,
force him to take measures Of severity. The
merchant persisted in his denial.
The Viceroy left the room suddenly, and
returned with the jewel-case in his hand
at which unexpected apparition the mer-
chant changed color, and entirely lost his
presence of mind.
The Viceroy ordered him from his pres
ence, with severe rebuke Of his falsehoOd
and treachery, and an order never again to
enter the palace. At the same time he COM
manded him to send him, the next morning,
eight hundred dollars, with FIVE hundred
more, which he did, and which were by the
Viceroy's orders, distributed among the
hospital. His excellency gave a severe re-
primand to the lady, for having made a
bargain without writing.