The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-03-02


it, and cried imploringly to him:
To be Continued.
THE DIAMOND ROBBERY.
In March, 1850, there arrived at Con-
stantinoplc, by the Austrian Lloyd's
steamer, "Vorwarts," a gentleman styl-
ing himself Count Steffani Perragi.
He took a suite Of rooms at Meserie's
fashionable hotel in Pera; and, by his
lavish style Of living, soon became the
center of attraction. He said that he
was a Colonel Of the Austrian Imperial
Guards, and a member of the Diet. He
had come to Turkey on private Govern
ment affairs, and was furnished with nu-
merous introductions to the different for
eign ambassadors and merchant princes
A month after his arrival, he headed a
subscription list with the sum of five
thousand piastres, in aid of Madame
Sophie Cartehagg, the widow of the late
Monsieur .Cartenagg, formerly banker of
Berlin, who, by the sudden death Of her
husband, found herself in a strange land,
with her three young children, destitute
Of all support" In some such manner
ran the heading Of the subscription list.
Count Perragi humanely took upon
himself the task of soliciting subscrip-
tions; and, incredible as it may seem,
collected the sum of thirty-fve thousand
dollars in about twenty davs
One morning, Per-agi suddenly disap.
peared. Suspicious having arisen. the
police authorities were instructed TO find
out Madame Cartenagg, But, alas for
human credulity! the police swore, by
the beard of Mohsmmed, that madame
was myth, and the Crescent City knew
her not! Done, by Jove! Done, to the
tune of thirty five thousand dollars
Thus ends the first act in this strange
drama.
Now, for the second act. Not far from
the Cafe de Paris stands the shop of NM.
Degranti Brothers, diamond brokers to
his Imperial Majesty the Sultan Oppo-
site this extensive depot of precious
stones stood the pharmacy of Doctor
Jacob Valpass. Five minutes walk from
these two establishments stands the Ho-
tel Europe.
In the latter place, Madame Estelle
Deorest and her sickly son All'ert. had
hired magnificent suite Of rooms for
the winter. She was quiet, melancholy
sort of a lady, of about thirty. All her
thoughts seemed centered in her boy
But, OH how surprisingly lovely she
was! They say that the walters at the
Europe made quite handsome thing out
of her by allowing sundry "sparks' to
peep at madame through the key hole, as
she sat in her elegant morning costume
at breakfast She paid all her bills reg
ularly, saw no visitors, and received no
letters. So much for madame.
NJ. Degranti, junior, was rather fast
young man, very rich, and very fond of
horses. The elder brother, at this time,
was absent in Paris.
Doctor Jacob Valpass was man of
thirty-two, and considered very clever
His father had left him some considera-
BILE property, but, as he was passionately
devoted to his profession, he still con-
tinued in practice. We have now suffi-
GENTLY described the four principal ac
tors in this drama.
1t was after ten o'clock one night, and
Doctor Jacob Valpass sat in his study.
A person requested to see him. A tall,
deeply vailed lady entered. DR.. Valpass
politely offered her chair,an asked her
the nature of her business. With deep
sigh she threw back her vail, and the
doctors weaker human half surveyed
that dazzling beauty in bewilderment.
She told her story in quiet, brief
manner She had an only son, on whom
she doated passionately. He was subject
to fits of monomania And most eXtla-
ordinary as it might seem, his desires lay
in the fact that nothing but diamonds
placed about him would satisfy his era
wings. She had consulted the best med
ical men of Europe, and they prescribed
change of scene She had Travelled con-
siderably, but without any salutary effect
upon her boy. She had been advised to
consult Doctor Nalpass, and as her son
had just recovered from one of these
periodical fits, she earnestly requested
him to visit her at the Hotel Europe.
Doctor Valpass took charge of this
curious case, and soon became very in
innate with Madame Deorest. To be
brief, poor Valpass fell deeply in love,
and a month after their acquaintance he
proposed to her, and was accepted. Thus
stood matters in December, 1851, and SO
closes the second act.
4 The last scene opens OH the 4th day of
January, 1852. Doctor Valpass was
putting on his gloves preparatory to en-
tering his carriage, when he saw his af1i-
anced bride rushing madly toward him.
He ran out and met her.
"What is the matter, Estelle:"
"Oh, darling, he is worse. Oh, come
to him! come to him." cried the frantic
mother
"One moment; step into the carriage
l will be with you immediately"
He crossed over to the establishment
of MM. Degranti.
"Let me have that diamond necklace,
these bracelets, this brooch, and these
rings. Quick, Dogranti am in hur-
ry, only want them for an hour"
"But, doctor, these are worth millions,
and" urged the, broker, rather at a
loss what to do.
"Give me pen, ink and paper. Here
is my note Of hand for the articles. How
much are they worth :"
'At rough calculation, twenty mil
lions of piastres"
VERY well here you are; now quick,
j the articles"