National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-08
TIE LII H0Nn ER4CELETS

I'LL SIfh-ncA
1t was during the rslmicst days of the EN-
pire. Never was Paris so gay; in fact, it wal
the fcte day of the Emperor, the last Pickering
blaze of his greatness ere his glory departed
forever. All Paris knew that he would grace
The opera that night and add to its usual lnstrt
the glittering pomp and circumstance of power
Accordingly all that portion of Paris who had
the necessary number of francs went to tho
opera, end. in Eonor of 50 great an occasion,
Mons. Blauvais, the director, was to producc
LA Prophetic"
The overture was over the Emperor, accom-
panied l,y the Empress, radiant in her beauty
and glittcrin2 with Jewels, had just entered the
royal box: his suite, uniformed in every color
of the rainbow, stood grouped in the beck
Rround In another moment the bell would
tingle and the opera commence. But In an in
slant of time. when every sound was heard, the
second box to the right Of the Emperor was
opened, and the curtains were drawn aside, and
revealed the lovely wife of the Russian ambas-
-sador, Duke Metzkcrw;tch. ..-.s.
No wonder that the bell tinkled unheard and
The curtain went up uinoticed; no wonder that
evcryeye was fixed with fascinated gaze upon
The woman who had just taken her seat and
was calmly and with well-bred nOnchalancc
CHANGING about the house for upon her arms,
blazing like beacons, sparkled the diamonds of
which Paris had heard so much, and which
royalty In vain had long sought to purchase.
"A hum of admiration ran through the house,
and then for the first time the enchanting
strains of the chorus were listened to.
When the curtain fell upon the first oct, and
Milford This ogling Mlady That, a servant,
wearing the imperial livery, presented himself
at the Russian Ambassadors box, raped only
rs an imperial funky could rap, and then en-
tered the box. -lG-.E
hHer Majesty had noticed the bracelets and
was dumb with admiration; would Milady be
so gracious as to allow the Empress to make
personal examination of one of the braceletsF
In an instant the fair arm was shorn of its
gems, and with sElothered ejaculation of de-
light the man wearing the imperial livery
bowed himself out of the box, bearing the
bracelet that million of francs could not pur-
chase.
The curtain fell upon the third act, as
cenled again On the fourth, the notes of the
finale rolled through the house, the curtain
fell for the last time; and still, with we'll bred
politeDess, the wife of the Russian Ambassa-
dor waited for the return of her priceless jew |
els. The imperial party rose and departed,
and yet the bracelet was not returned. Then |
the Duke, with a terrible frown of impotence,
rose and drove rapidly to the Tuilerics and de- |
manded the return Of the diamonds. |
Explanations followed, and the Duke was at |
last convinced that the Empress had never sent |
for the bracelet, and that the man wearing the |
Imperial livery was one OF the daring thieves |
who infested the capital. He babe his coach
man drive to the office of the project of police,
and ere daylight hundred Of the shrewdest /
officers were searching Paris for the gems. The
Duke, filled with anxiety, remained at the Of
Zee for tidings, while the Duchess restlessly
sw aited the recovery of her bracelet at home.
The great clock had just tolled the hour of 6
wien the bell of the Dukes hotel rang VIC
Iently, and an officer of the police was ushered
INTO the presence Of the Duchess.
"Was the bracelet recover1d!" and stwould
they imprison the scouadrel for the rest of his
1ays?" eagerly demanded the Duchess.
With grave bow the officer stated that the
theief was taken, and upon his person was
found the bracelet. But the fellow stoutly in |
sisted that he was not thief, and that the
bracelet in his possession had been in his FAM
ly for many years. Would madame intrust to
him the mate to the missing bracelet, that the
IDENTIFY might be complete!
Madame the Duchess, without word, I'M
ocked her casket and placed in the hands Of
he trusty officer the second bracelet. The |
nicer, with a profound bow, left the apart
nent, and madame retired once more-this
ime to sleep and to dream of her precious
iamoLds. When the bell tolled tho hour of
he Russian ambassador, laggard and disor- !
erred entered his wiie's apartments and threw
limself in despair into chair. Madame
pened her eyes, and with smile of delight
sked for the bracelets.
"Satan." exclaimed the Duke, eve can
earn nothing of them"
"Whatr' shricked the madame, shave you
ot recovered il. The officer who came for the
ther bracelet said the thief had been taken and
be bracelet found"
The duke, with an exclamation of amaze /
,ent, sprang to his feet, snd in husky voice, ]
esought his wiic to explain. In few words
he told him. And then, with q grosn, the
uke dropped into seat.
81 see It ALL" said he; sfhe rsscals have
,bbed you of the second bracelet. There was r
0 messenger sent for the bracelet. The man
!, whom you gave it was no officer, but q q
older thief than he who robbed you first"
And so it proved. The bracelets were never
turned, and the Russian ambassador recalls T
lie last fee day of the fallen Emperor with a
Oh, for it made him poorer man by many
illions of francs than he was when he handed
IS charming wife into his carriage and babe
Is coachman drive 20 the opera. Is