The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-04-19

iooih' " 5
relief, and wiped his forehead with his
cambria handkerchief.
"With English punctuality ~ he ex-
claimed gaily, rising and advancing to-
ward Mr.. erode with efiusion. " You
have the Emerald? Hush hush speak
softly-walls have GEOGRAPHICALLY those
of an embassy
Mr.. erode drew from his breast pocket a
casFet, not very unlike in form that which
had held poor Nathan Lewis demolished
idol, but made of wrought-iron, and fas-
tened with paddock. He retained it,
however, in his hand, though the Count
extended his eagerly
"There," he said, this is yours as soon
as the contract is sgned.''
"English caution" said the Count
"Well, l shall not have long to wait. Here
it is, drawn up in French and English. 1t
only wants signatures and witnesses. You
are provided with witnesses o.
81 appointed two gentle men from a
solicitors office to meet me here at twelve.
They are arrived, know"
"Then we will affix our names at once
you, Monsieur, the part of the repre-
rentatives of the ci-decant house of Gran
stoun II Cranstoun; L on that of my au-
gust and imperial master. We will send
I for your witnesses at once, two under Sec
retaries of the Legation will act for mine"
pardon mel should like to run my
eye over the contract"
ooh, by all means,' said the Count,
carelessly. "By the way, was forgetting
you remind me that one ought, just as
matter of form, to examine the stone You
will not object to the examination of an
expert? l think it was one Of the terms
of the treaty.
"By all MEANS" said Mr.. erode in his
| turn.
81 brought one with me, sworn to Sc.
crecy.' He threw the parchment over the
casket, so as to hide it, and then summon
ed porter of the Embassy, gorgeous
being in an embroidered pelisse, a tall fur
cap, high boots, and wearing long saber
to whom he spoke few words in an un-
known tongue. Then he threw the docu-
ment over to Mr.. erode, who began to 90
through it carefully, comparing it, as he
read, with copy of the draft that he had
brought with him.
After minute or two, there entered
tall man of stately and dignifed bearing,
with long white beard, and wearing
robe and tall cap, such as form the cos
tune of Americans in Eastern countries.
Mr.. Grode," said the Count, politely,
''let me have the honor of Introducing to
you the excellent Monsieur Michael Gre
gorius, from Bassora, who knows more
about jewels than any man in the world.
Michael" he said, turning the key in the
lock of the casket, Il am going to test
your knowledge. Where is the Great EN-
erald of Kandahar %
"All the world knows, your Excellency
that it is in the crown of his Imperial Maj
esty the Car Of Capia.''
"Then all the world is wrong. Did you
ever see it there ?''
Thirty-five years ago 1 saw it at the
coronation Of his Imperial Majesty the late
Gar"
"And should you know it if you saw it
again ?"
"Saint Sophia! l should think So
There is not another stone like it in the
world. 1t is the glory of the whole earth
"Behold it, then," said the Count, tax
ing from the casket, and handing to the
expert, stone to all outward seeming as
like poor Nathan's piece of paste as a pea
is like pea. "Where do you think it is
now9 Michael, you hold in your hands
the Great Emerald of Kandahar. 1t will
be thought foryou to rejoice in when you
are DID,
"Most blessed Sophiav' exclaimed the
expert, taking it up tenderly, and gazing
into it with reverential eyes. alt is in
deed an emerald, if this indeed be the
Great Emerald of Kandahar.
"Please to certify to that effect. By
our Lady Of the Seven Seas, but l have
done good days work! Why do you not
write??" he continued impatiently to the
expert, who was absorbed in the stone, as
if he could not bear to let it 60 from his
hands.
"Why, it is worth millions of piastres-
yes, hundreds of millions. But are you
sure, Excellency, that this is the Great
Emerald o'
"Sure? Why, what luster-what depth
,l,,,t of Ill hat
color"
"Does your Excellency order me to GER
tify that this is the stone %
'Why, in the name of the iend, yes
Why do you ask ~
Well, then, l will certify"
"Why do you ask 90
your Excellency does not order me?
He wishes me to be satisfied ~
"Of course. Why else did have you
here . Great heavens!' he cried out, with
an agonizing presentiment, edo you doubt?
Wish to be satisfied, indeed! l should
think SO. Don't you know that if that is
not the real stone, shall lose my head ?"
The expert shook his head sadly. 81
am sorry to disappoint your Exeellency,
but"
"Welle"
1t is not the stone. 1t is not stone
at ALL
The Count sprang from his seat with
bound. Mr.. erode, who was examining
the parchment, and had not understood
the foreign language in which this CONVEX
sation had been carried on, looked UP,
startled.
"Saints and angels" cried out the Count
to the latter. 500 you hear what he
says"
Il don't understand Caspian. No.
What does he day 80
THAT you are a faussaire, Monsieur
erode; liar, a swindler." Certainly,
Caspian politeness did not seem to extend
very far below the skin.
What" exclaimed Mr. erode, starting
up in his turn.
He says that you have tried to palm