The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-06-07
THE DIAMOND ROBBERY

In March, 1850, there arrived at Con.
stantinople, by the Austrian Lloyd's
steamer Vorwarts, a noblemah styling
himself Counts leffano Perragi.
He took suit Of rooms at Mesirie's
fashionable hotel in Pera, and by his
lavish style of living soon became the
center of attraction. He said that he
was colonel of the Austrian Imperial
Guards and a member of the Diet. He
had come TO Turkey on private Govern
ment affairs, and was furnished with nu-
merous introductions to the different
foreign ambassadors and merchant
princes.
A month after his arrival, he headed a
subscription list with the sum of five
thousand piasteres, In aid "of Nine.
Sophie Carrenagg, the widow of the late
lin, who, by the sudden death OF her hus
band, found herself in a strange land,
with her three young children, destitute
of support" In some such manner ran
the heading of the subscription list.
Count Perragi humanely took upon
himself the task OF soliciting the sub.
scriptions, and incredible as it may
seem, collected the sum of $500 In
about twenty days!
One morning Perragf suddenly disap-
peared. Suspicion having arisen, the
police authorities were instructed to
lind out Nine. Cartenagg. But, alas for
human creduifty! The police swore, by
the beard of Mohammed, that Madame
was myth, and the Crescent City
knew her not! Done, by Jovel Done,
to the tune OF f5,0OOl Thus ends the
first act IN this strange drama.
Now tor the second act. Not far from
the Gale de Paris stands the shop OF
NM. Degrant Brothers, diamond brok-
ers to his Imperial Majesty the Sultan.
cious stones stood the pharmacy of DR..
Jacob Valpass. Five minutes walk
from these two establishments stands
the Hotel de PEurope.
In the latter place, Madame Estelle
Deorest and her sickly son, Albert, had
hired magnificent suite Of rooms for
the winter. She was quiet, melan.
choly lady. of about thirty. All her
thoughts seemed centered in her boy.
But, oh! how surprisingly lovely she
was! They say that the walters Of the
Europe made quite a handsome thing
OUT oi her by allowing gsundrys.sparks" 70
peep at madame through the key y-hole, as
she sat in her elegant morning costume
at breakfast Sue paid her bills regu-
larly, saw no visitors, and received no
letters. So much for madame.
M. Degrant, jr., the jewellery was a
rather last youAg fellow, very rich, and
very fond Of horses. The elder brother,
at this time, WAS absent in Paris.
Doctor jacob Valpass was man OF
thirty-Iwo, and considered very crever.
His father lett him some considerable
property, but, as he was passionately
devoted to his profession, he still con-
tinued in practice. We have now sufi-
ciently described the four principal acl-
ors in the drama.
1t was alter ~ O'Clock one night, aud
Doctor Vafpass sat In his study. A per.
son requested to see him. A tail, deeply.
veiled lady entered. DR.. Valpass po-
liteiy offered her chair, and asked her
the nature OF her business. With deer
sigh, she threw back her veil, and the
DOCTORS weaker-human half surveyed
that dazzling beauty in bewilderment
She told her story in quiet, brief man.
dotted passionately. He was subject to
its of monomania. And, most extraor.
binary as it might seem, his desires lay
in the TACT that nothing bat diamonds
placed ABOUT him would satisfy his crav.
ings. She mad consulted the best medi.
cal men in Europe, and they prescribed
change of scene. She had travelled q
great deal, but without any salutary ef.
lect upon her boy. She had been ad.
yised TO consult Doctor Valpass, and, al
ler son had just recovered from one ol
those periodical fits, she earnestly re.
duested him to visit her at the Hotel dc
PEurope.
Dir. Valpass took charge of this curl
GUS case, and soon became very intimate
with Madame Deorest. To be brief, pooi
YaIpass fell deeply in love, and month
after their acquaintance he proposed tC
her, and was accepted. Thus stood mat
ters in December 1851, and SO closes The
second act.
The last scene opens on the fourth day
putting on his gloves preparatory to en-.
tering his carnage, when he saw his
affianced bride rushing madfy toward
him. He ran out and met her.
"What is the matter, EstelleW
stOh, he is worsel Oh, come to him
come to himW cried the frantic mother
-sOne moment; step into the carriage;
will be with you immediately
He crossed over to the establishment
of NM. Degranti.
"Let me have that diamond necklace
these bracelets, this brooch and these
rings. Quick, Degrantil l am in a hurry
Il only want them for an hour"
"But, doctor, these are worth millions
and" returned the jeweler, rather
at loss what to do.
"Give me pen, ink and paper. Here is
my note of hand for the articles. How
much are they WORTH"
ssAt q rough calculation, five millions
of francs"
the articles"
Ten minutes after, the doctor and ma
dame reacned the hotel and found Al
bert in the arms of two domestics. The
medical man took ch arge of the yelling
boy and dismissed the servants.
He drew forth his treasures, and
placed them about the boy. 1t was Won
aertul! The boy danced with glee
ciapped his hands, and gradually be-
came pactiec. He then slowly left the
room with downcast head. The en-
raptured mother flung herself into the
arms Of her savior, aud, with tears ir
her beautiful eyes, thanked him from hel
heart. Then followed one long, deli
cious kiss, and the doctor was in the sew
enth heaven Of happinessl Madame ex
cused herself for . moment and left Val
Half an hour elapsed; an hour; ther
the doctor became fldgety. He ap.
preached door;it was locked. For an
other hour did the doctor remain quietly