The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-03-14
Miscellaneous,
The Diamond Bracelets.

II was during the pslmiest days
ofthe Empire. Never was Paris
so gay in fact, it was the .fste day
ofthe Emperor, the last fllckering
days Of his greatness ere his glory
departed forever. All Paris knew
that he would grace the opera that
night and add to its usual luster
the glitteripg pomp and circum-
stance Of power. Accordingly, all
that portion Of Paris who had the
necessary number Of francs went to
the opera, and, in honor Of 50 great
an occasion, Mons. Blauvais, the
director, was to produce La Pro-
phete. .fg aI 's'9
The overture was over; the Em-
peror, accompan ed by the Empress,
radiant in her beauty and glittering
with Jewels, had gust entered the
royal box; his suite, uniformed in
every color of the rainbow, stood
grouped III the background. In
another moment the bell would
tinkle and the opera commence
But in an Instant 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 love
ly wife of che Russian ambassador,
Duke Nletzkerwitch.
No wouder that the bell tinkled
unheard, and the curtain went up
unnoticed; no wonder that every
eve was fixed with a fascinated gaze
upon the woman who had just taken
her seat, aud was calmly and with
well.bred nonchalance glancing
about the house; for upon her arms,
blazing like beacOns, sparkled the
diamonds Of which Paris bad heard
80 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.
IMPERIAL ADMIRATION. III Z
When the curtain tell upon the
first act, and Milford This ogling
Milady That, a servant wearing the
imperial livery, presented himself at
the Russian ambassadors box, rap
ped only as an imperial flunkey
could rap, and then entered the
box. e.n9 d7
"Her Majesty had noticed the
bracelets, and wss dumb with ad-
miration; would Milady be SO gra-
cious as to allow the Empress to
make a personal examination of one
of the bracelets I"
In an instant the fair arm was
shorn Of its gems, and with q slnoth-
l ? 10
e-ed ejaculation Of delight the man
wearing the imperial livery bowed
himself out Of the box, bearing the
bracelet that a million Of francs
could not purchase.
The curtain fell upon the third
act, asCended again on the fourth,
the notes OF the finale rolled through
the house, the curtain fell for the
last time (; and still with well.bred
politeness, the wife Of the Russian
ambassador waited for the return
ofher priceless Jewels. The impe-
rial party rose and departed, and
yet the bracelet was not returned.
Then the Duke with terrible
frown of impatiellee, rose and drove
rapidly to the Tuilleries and de-
manded the return Of the diamonds.
Expansions followed, and the
Duke was AT last convinced that
the Empress Had ileyet seht fot the
bracelet, and that the man wearing
the imperial livery was one Of the
daring thieves. Who infested the
sCpitael: nfIs 'bsdsii His coaCRmatl,
drive u the Office ofthe Pfefect iOI
Police, and sfs daylight ailhIAsalsa
ofthsshtegdest 6iiGsrs wsre seatSB.
ingRAriN foEthegetns, me Duke,
oiled with anKisty remained al the
OdiCe fwtidipgs, white the duchess
TestlSssly seated 'tHe " iitetBvsay hOi
49, ~ tlst ~ h,IeAliid aHl ,Sisf9