The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-08

MlladY be 80 gracious as to allow the En-.
press to make q personal examination oil
one of the bracelets ?"
In an instant the fair arm was shorn Of
its gems, and with smothered ejaculation
OF delight the man wearing the imperial
livery bowed himself out of the box, bear
ing the bracelet that a million OF francs
could not purchase.
The curtain fell upon the third act,
assembled 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
of her priceless jewels. The imperial party
rose and departed, and yet the bracelet was
not returned. Then the Duke, with ter
rible frown of impotence, rose and drove
rapidly to the Tuileries, and demanded 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 coachman drive to
the office of the project of police, and ere
daylight hundred of the shrewdest Off
GERS were searching Paris for the gems.
The Duke, filled with anxiety, remained at
the office for tidings, while the Duchess
restlessly awaited the recovery of her
bracelet at home.
The great clock had Just tolled the hour
of six, when. the bell Of the Dukes hotel
RAM violently, and an officer of the police
was ushered into the presence Of the
Duchess.
"Was the bracelet recovered Pr and
'swould they imprison the scoundrel for
the rest of his days ?' eagerly demanded
the Duchess. :,
With grave bow the officer stated that
the thief was taken, and upon his person
was found the bracelet. But the fellow
stoutly insisted that he was not a thief, and
that the bracelet in his possession had been
in his family for many years. Would mad
anne intrust to him the mate to the missing
bracelet, that the identity might be COM
plete ? -.
Madame, the Duchess, without word,
unlocked her casket and placed in the
hands OF the rusty officer the second
bracelet. The officer, with profound bow,
left the apartment, and madame retired
once more-this time to sleep, and to
dream of her precious diamonds. When
the bell tolled the hour OF nine, the Rus.
sian Ambassador, haggard and disordered,
entered his wife's apartments and threw
himself in despair into a chair. Madame
opened her eyes, and with smile of delight
asked for the bracelets.
"Satan!" exclaimed the Duke, eve
can learn nothing of Them"
What ~ shrieked the madame, sshaye
you not recovered it? The officer who
came for the other bracelet said the thief
had been taken and the bracelet found.o
The Duke, with an exclamation of
amazement, sprang to his feet, and in
husky voice besought his wife to explain.
In few words she told him. And then
with groan the Duke dropped into seat,
~ see it all" said he ; "the rascals
have robbed you Of the second bracelet.
There was no messenger sent for the
bracelet. The man to whom you gave it
was no officer, but holder thief than he
who robbed you first" -.
And SO it proved. The bracelets were
never returned, and the Russian Ambassa-
dor recalls the last .fete day of the fallen |
Emperor with sigh, for it made him a |
poorer man by many millions of francs
than he was when he handed his charming
wife into his carriage and babe his COACH
man drive to the opera. -, -