The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-12
m OlA UoanAenee Transacslon.

An OLD UoaAaenos Transaction.
| Here is an anecdote Of . confidence man,
told by NJ. Pasquier, who wss . Project Of Po-
lice ia Paris under the 6rst Emperor:
IA magnificent carriage drove up, one day,
| to the door of q rich jeweler in Paris, and :
well. looking, important and not overdressed
gentleman alighted from it. He said he want.
| ed a complete wedding Parurs, consisting Of
| lady's set of diamond ornaments, the price
limited to 200, 900 francs, equal to SAC, OOO.--
From several designs, which he examined with
the evidently practiced eye Of 3 connoisseur
he selected one, which he desired might be ex'
| ecuted within Eve days, and insisted on leav'
1 ing four thousand francs with the jeweler as q
deposit. He also selected . ring, worth IN
francs, which lie begged might be sent to hin
| the next day, giving his address as Prince Gar
parin, Hotel Hollande, Rue de Ia Paix, which
was more fashionable house in 1906 than It il
| in 1862.
1.-THE jewelers. messenger called at the APP
pointed time. and was shown into an apartment
| in the second story. There were five or siz
| liveried lackeys in the antechamber, one o.
whom escorted him to the Prince, who received
and examined the ring, paid for it and present.
ed ten francs to the messenger, who returned
home, joyfully congratulsting the jewcler 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 sec.
retaire His Highness infinitely inspected the
Jewels with glass, and suddenly one of the
Wallets announced prince Dolgorouk.' 'Ah!
my brother jim law exclaimed his Highness
Il do not wish him to see the presents with
which / intend surprising his sister. Request
him to stay in the drawing room and I will i'm
mediately join him.
Touching the table, the cylinder moved and
the secretaire closed. The diamonds were
within it--but on the table was an open box
filled with plump leather bags, and numerous
rouleaux Of louis were huddled together con.
fusedly. On his arrival the jeweler had no.
ticed all this treasure, and more especially a
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 apprehen-
sion crept. The door opened-Oh! here is his
Highness he thought. No. It was the mas
ter Of the hotel, who asked if he was waiting
for any one. For the return of Prince Gar
garin, said the jeweler. Il have just sold him
set Of diamonds for 20O, 900 francs Are YOU
his secretary" The maire d,ho.el shook his
head and sadly said, Il am his dupe, and so
are you, suppose 'Impossible The dia-
monds are shut up in that secretaire Besides,
look at all this money
calais, 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 con-
solation-the diamonds were safe lock-
smith was sent for--the secretarie opened, and
found-empty, 1t stood flush up against
wall, in which hole had been made, and,
there being corresponding hole in the back Of
the secretarie, the jewels had readily been re-
moved into the next room The jeweler, as he
we'll might be. was in despair The master of
ther hotel had been swindled. Allthe servants
were his except the valet de cham5re, who wa.
the confederate of the Prince They had de-
camped, without suspicion, at the door of the
hotel All efforts to discover them were inef-
fectual.
"The poor jewelernearly ruined by this rob-
berry, had to remove his much diminished bust.
ness TO another part of Paris, where his name
sunk in that of his partners Many years after
he received message from one Monsieur Teron
described as n gentleman holding an official
situation, who desired to purchase some rings.
Instead of sending clerk he went himself. and
was shown into a partially lighted bed chamber
where, in the invalid in bed he recognized his
old customer the ciaeOaat Prince Gargarin.-
The recognition was not mutual and the Jew
eler held his tongue and bided his time,
'From the rings exhibited, q few were
selected to the value Of COCO francs. and M.
Teron, declaring that he had not the means of
paying in cash, asked if the jeweler would ex.
change against curious snutf.box, which he
declared to be of great value This was an
octagon shaped china snuff box, ornamented
with ten miniatures by Clinchsteil, set in gold
and rubles No one knew its value so well as
the Jeweler, for it was one which had been
stolen from him shortly before Prince Garpar
N $ visit Moreover, he knew what few others
did, that it had a secret spring by means of
which all the miniatures could be taken ont of |
heir settings and their reverses exhibited. on |
which were painted subjects treated with ad- |
nlrable skill, in the indicate style peculiar to
he age of Louis XIV.
without any hesitation, the jeweler valued |
he box at $4,000 francs, which was much more
han NJ. Teron expected. The jeweler on the
'ther hand, said 1T was probably worth
wen more and made this proposal: "Take the
ings you have chosen and put the box in an
Envelope, stating it to be my property-if il
loes not bring more than $4,000 francs. Won
hall have the rings for nothing"
!. 'Gratifed at the idea of being able to obtain
he rings without opening his purse, Nj. Teron
scented. Two of his neighbors, one of them
notary, were sent for, and the invalid asked
VINO shall Tx the price of the box?" "You.
If, said the jeweler. II will Law wager
hat you will value it at 500. 900 francs Let
he tell you in private circumstance connected
'i'h this box which will enable you to perceive
IS true value"
IN Teron, curions and ANXIOUS enough
ow, gave his consent, and the two referees
etired Then the Jeweler said, sixteen
ears ago that snuff-box was stolen from me.
hen traded on the Boulevard des Italiens-
lew days before was robbed of 200, 900
'ancs worth OF diamonds by yourself, under
ne assumed name of Prince Gargain. My ev
'ence relative to the loss of the box is on the |
.cords of the police. You now declare the
Ok to be yours. have already sworn that I
urchased it alta public SALE The man who | {
I'D 1t to me Is still alive know secret about
le box which will further prove nv owner
np--a secret which you have not discovered
nless you fully repair all wrongs YOU have
'ne me, shall at once have you arrested ns
theft. give you FIVE minutes to deter
ine." /
Within that time thus driven into corner
Ieron, who really was an invalid, handed {
$ keys to the jeweller and babe him open
aver, in which he would find 3OO, 900 francs
6'liets Ia banque, and signed cheaue for q
,o,OoO francs more, payable at his bank a
3 that same day. This done the witnesses o
ere recalled v
''Gentlemen," said the jeweler, exhibiting
e bank notes and check, ..you see that NJ t
iron has become aware of the value of the d
X he has purchased it back from me for tt
e hundred thousand francs. Is it not soY" o
Yes" sighed NJ Teron, 81 have given him Il
At sum-" 'Then,' said the jewelier, "here k
the box, and will let you have the rings into 81
e bargain. You may explain the mystery G
you please; for ray part, promise eternal h
,recy." I
The jeweler retired, leaving the witnesses Ii
amaze and NJ Teron in dismay. The notary U
3 unable to keep silent, and the police event. 70
lily unraveled the mystery, though the lew. CT
r faithfully observed his promise Of secrecy. VI
Ieron, who was so immensely rich as to m
we three millions of francs to his heirs. new III
recovered from the modification of having WI
IN detected and compelled to refund, with mi
npound interest. its