The Van Buren press., 1870-02-15
A Genteel Swindle

One evening in November last q gentle
man presented himself at the residence oil
Lord c., in London. and asked to see
the lady of the house He was shown into
the room of Lady 9.
"My Lady" said he. "a mere accident
has thrown into my hands number let
tiers which Lord c. has written to u
young lady with whom he entertained
iaison for several months. The young
lady is beautiful and highly intelligent
she is of respectable family. and only the
blindness Of passion has induced her to
forget herself in this way"
Lady c., who loves her husband passion
ately. was thunderstruck.
a." Sir" she gasped convusively. "snd
those letters which you have received, where
are they -
IL have got them. Here they are"
said the gentleman, producing at the same
time bundle of five or six letters.
Lady G. stretched out hor hands to re-
cciye the bundle which the gentleman had
shown her.
"My lady," said the gentleman, 81 need
not tell you that these letters are valuable.
Lord {, would pay me five hundred pounds
for them But in returning them 10 him,
/ would assist him in the crime he is com
mitting against you. Morality has always
had powerful influence on my actions,
and, in seeing you so terribly excited and
hopeless, | feel inclined to act generously
with you and offer them to you at half the
price the lord would pay for them"
"But, si-," said Lady G., 81 do not
know whether these letters are genuine.
You are perfect stranger to me. They
may be forgeries."
A; these words the gentleman replaced
the bundle into his pocket, and bowed po-
litely to the lady.
81 have nothing tosay, My Lady said
he, coldly. "Lord c., who knows whether
they are genuine or not, may decidc on
their value
And the gentleman went to the door.
Stop said My Lady. Lot me have
those letters. But, sir, l have not got the
amount you ask for them in cash. If this
diamond necklace will satisfy you, you
may have it. Lord G paid f300 for it
last Christmas, and it is worth more than
you ask for the letters
The gentleman examined the necklace
closely and then, after having put it into
pocket, delivered the expensive letters.
When Lord G, came home few hours
after, he found his wife in despair. Only
after thousand prayers anl earesses he
succeeded in learning the terrible news
which had been communicated to Lady c.
In vain he tried to persuade her that she
had been made the victim Of an ingenious
swindler. who had prof,ed by his absence
to deprive her of costly piece of jewclry.
Lady &. declared that all his assurances
were as many lies, and that she was deter
mined to separate from him.
AT this juncture a letter was brought in.
On openingit twenty pound bank note
fell ON the table. The lady read hnrrisdly
the contents OF the letter, which WAS ad-
dressed to her, and which ran as follows:
"Mr LADY: BY this time Lord G. will
have convinced You that my letters are in
genious fabrieations of my own hand. |
am an artist in my own way; my forgeres
are excellent, and you are not the first, nor,
hope /, will you be the last Of my victims.
But am honest in my dealings. | asked
f250 Cor the letters. You gave me your
necklace. have just sold it for f270 to
Messrs. b. & d.. Luigato Hill, and take
she liberty to cnslose you E20. amount
over and above my demands. | have no
doubt the jewellers will. upon presentation
Of this letter, return the necklace for tho
amount they paid for it.
Every respectfully,
fsif 81. +. Tnlrr."