Litchfield enquirer., 1862-05-29
A FRENCH STORY OF A CONFIDENCE
 MAN

A FRENCH STORY OF A CONFIDENCF MAN.
 Here is an anecdote of confidence man, told by M. Pasquier, who was prefect of police in Paris under the first Emperor:
 " A magnificent carriage drove up, one day. to the door of a rich jeweler in Paris, and we'll looking, important. aid not overdressed gentle man alighted from it. He said that he wanted complete wedding pa''u'e, consisting of a la dys set of diamond ornaments the price limited to 100000 francs equal to s4OOOO. From sev- eral designs, which he examined with the evi- dently practiced eye of a cennosseur, he select ed one, which he desired might be executed within five days, and insisted on leaving four thousand francs with the jeweler as deposit He alse selected ring, worth 120 francs, which he begged might be sent to him the next day giving his address as Prince Gargarin, Hotel Hollande, Rue de la Paix, which was more fashionable house in 1905 than it was in 1862.
 "Ihe jewellers messenger called at the ap- pointed time, and was shown into an apartment in the second story. There were five or six liv cried lackeys in the antechamber, one of whom escorted him 60 the Prince, who received and examined the ring, paid for it, and presented ten francs to the messenger, who returned home joyfully congratulating the jeweler on having so wealthy and liberal customer.
 "On the fifth day, as agreed, the jeweler car ried home the diamonds and found the Prince in his study, sitting before his cylindrical secre- taire. His Highhess minutely inspected the jewels with glass, and suddenly-one of the val cts announced Prince Dolgorouki.' 'Ah my brother-in-law,' exclaimed his Highness. I do not wish him to see the present with which intend surprising his sister. Request him to stay in the drawing room and will immediately join him.
 Touching the table, the cylinder moved and the secretare closed. The diamonds were with in it-but on the table was an open box filled with plump leather bags, and numerous rouleauz of louis were huddled together confusedly. On his arrival the jeweler had noticed all this treas ure, and more especially large Russia leather port folio we'll lined with bank notes, the rough edges of which were visible.
 "The Prince quilted the room saying that he would immediately return. The polite jew eler begged him not to hurry himself. Twenty minutes elapsed, which seemed like three hours to the jeweler over whom vague apprehension crept The door opened-oh! here is High ness, he thought. No. It was the master of the hotel, who asked if he was waiting for any one. For the return of Prince Gargarin,' the jeweler answered. I have just sold him set of diamonds for 100000 francs. Are you his secretary?' The maitre d'hotel shook his head and sadly said, { I am his dupe, and so are you, I suppose Impossible! The diamonds are shut up in that secretaire. Besides, look at all this money
 Alas, the leathern bag which he seized was filled with nails. The rouleauX were of wood. The Russian leather portfolio contained scraps of waste paper. However, there was one conso- lation-the diamonds were safe. A l1cksmth was sent for. the secretaire opened, and found empty! It stood flush up against the wall, in which hole had been made, and there Being a corresponding hole in the back of the secretaire, the jewels had readily been removed to the next room. The jeweler. as he might we'll be, was in despair. The master of the hotel had been swinded. All the servants were his except the cttlet de cjlten,5re, who was the confederate of the Prince They had decamped without sus- picion at the door Of the door of the hstel. All efforts to discover them were intellectual.
 The poor jeweler, nearly ruined by this rob- bery, had to remove his much diminished busi- ness to another part of Paris, where his name Was sunk in that of his partners Many years after he received 8 message from one Monsieur Teron, described as gentleman holding an off cial situation, who desired to purchase some rings Instead of sending clerk he went him. self, and was shown into a partially-lighted bed chamber, where, in the invalid in bed, he recog- nzed his old customer, the co deuant Prince Gargarin. The recognition was not mutual, and the jeweler held his tongue and bided his time.
 From the rings exhibited, few were selec. ted to the value of 5000 francs, and M. Teron declaring that he had not the means of paying in cash, asked if the jeweler would exchange olJ ,H bo1 ob l,o ed to be of great value. This was an octagon- shaped china snuff box, ornamented with ten miniatures by Clinchsteil, setin gold and rubies. No one knew its value so we'll as the jeweler, for it was one which had been stolen from him. self shortly before Prince Gargarins visit. More over, he know, what few others did, that it had secret spring by means of which all the minia- lures could all be taken out of their settings, and their reverses exhibited, on which were painted subjects treated with admirable skill, in the in- delicate style peculiar to the age of Louis XV.
 "Without any hesitation, the jeweler valued the box at 50OO0 francs, which was much more than M. Teron expected. The jeweler, on the other hand, said it was worth probably more, and made this proposal: Take the rings you have chosen, and put the box in an envelope, stating it to be my propertyy-if it does not bring more than 50,00O francs you shall have the rings TOT nOtnlng.
 "Gratifed at the idea of being able to obtain the rings without opening his purse, NJ. Teron assented. Two of his neighbors, one of them a notary, were sent for, and the invalid asked, Who shall fix the price of the box?' You sir, said the ieweler. T will lay wager that you will value it at 00000 francs. Let me tell you in private circumstance connected with this box which will enable you to perceive its real value.
 "M. Teron, curious and anxious enough now, gave his consent, and the two referees retired. Then the jeweler sad, sixteen years ago that snuff box was stolen from me, when traded on the Boulevard des Italiens-a few days before was robbed of 100000 francs worth of diamonds by yourself under the assumed name of Prince Gargarin. My evidence relative to the loss of the box is on the records of the police. You now declare the box to be yours. have already sworn that purchased it at a public sale. The man who sold it to me is still alive. l know a secret about the box which will further prove my ownership-a secret which you have not discov- cred. Unless you fully repair all the wrongs you have done me, shall at once have you arrested as thief. I give you five minutes to determine.
 Within that tune, thus driven into corner M. Teron, who was really an invalid, handed hls keys to the ieweler, and bade him open drawer in which he could find 300,OO0 francs in biHets de 5anque, and signed check for 200, 900 francs more, payable at his bankers that same day. This done, the witnesses were recalled.
 "Gentiemen,' said the jeweler, exhibiting the banknotes and check, you see that NJ. Teron has become aware of the value of the box. He has purchased it back from me for five hundred | thousand francs. Is it not so ? Yes sighed M. Teron, T have given him that sum- :Then, said the jeweler, here is the box, and will lei you have the rings into the bargain. You may