The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-13

mentioned. will make this PROPOSE
ton to you: you shall take the ttngt
you have selected. and you shall put the
box under an envelope, stating II to be
nv property, and II 1t does not bring
more than fifty thousand francs you
snail have my rings for nothing"
M, was completely blinded by
this scheme. He was good connois-
seur Of objects Of virtu, ana ne was not
little gratified to find his Dox 90 mncn
overvaiued, and to be enabled 20 oDlaln
the rings without opening ne Putse'
The most exaggerated valuaIlon =. dlJ
snuff. box would scarcely nave eAceev - J,
seven or eight thousand francs. q.
sent for two OF his neignb0rs, one q
whom was a notary, and the matter was
arranged conformabiy with the jewelers.
proposition. This being done the inva-
lid said; Ia,
ssWho will fix the price OF the box
"You, sir,n coolly replied the jeweler.
"Me? you are jesting."
"I assure you, sir, am quite serious.
would willingly lay Q wager that you
will value the box at i've hundred tnou-
M. T. directed at two witnesses a
look which seemed to say, the man II
mad. but the jeweler added
"You will value 1t at that price. lam
certain that you will. But first Of all
have TO acquaint you with little cir
cumstance connected with this box,
which will enable you to perceive Its real
value.n
M. T., full Of curiosity and anx-
iety, consented to hear the jewelers.
communication In private. The two
ncighbors, taking the box with them
~ ar nj
7 and the jeweler being left alone
the jeweler said
"Sir, it is now about sixteen years
since that snuff.box was stolen from me-
and short time after you robbed me o.
fifty thousand crowns worth OF dia.
monds under the assumed name Of
Prince Gavgarin. have now discovered
you. My evidence relative to the rob
berry il on record. You have declared
the snuff-box to be yours, and | ean
prove having purchased it at public sale
/ know q secret which will place the
truth Of my assertion beyond a doubt
Now, sir, tell me whether you are in
clined to defend yourself In the criminal
suit which intend forthwith to insti.
tute against YOU"
Every word uttered by the jewelel
fell like thunderbolt on the ears of M
T. Overwhelmed with the con
seriousness of his guilt, his imagination
pictured all the horrors of inprison
ment, trial, sentence and the scaffold
He reflected, and the jeweler said:
"Sir, l give you five minutes to form
your determination"
At the expiration Of that interval, M
T. in q faltering voice, directed thu
jeweler to open q drawer in which HI
would find bitlets dc bunque for five
hundred thousand francs, payable at BIZ
bankers that same day. This beint
done, the jeweler then called in the wit
neeses.
"Gentlemen,' said he, II have a
length convinced NJ. t. of the rea
value of the smff-box. You see tn,
price at which he has purchased it back
from me.n
II have given five hundred Thousand
francs" said NJ. T..
Here is your box" said the jeweler
restoring it, "and / will let you have tn
rings into the bargain
The notary who was no less amazed
than the other witness, said:
"There Is some mystery In all this"
Probably there is," replied the jew
eler. IN. T. may explain ii b,
pleares,; for my part, I promise hin
eternal secrecy"
With these words, he took his depar
ture, leaving the witnesses bewildere,
in a maze of conjectures. M. T.
though immensely rich, never recovere,
from the modification attendant on thi
unexpected discovery.