Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-09
PRINCE AND JEWELER.

A ieweler of Paris one day saw a
splendid equipage drive up to his
door, and tall, important-looking
gentleman alighted from it. He
wanted q lady's setof diamondorna-
ments, a complete wedding parture.
The price was fixed at two hundred
francs. Several designs
we're shown to him. He made
choice of one, said he could grant
but little time for executing the
order, and insisted on leaving with
the ieweler deposit Of four thou
sand francs in biIlets de banque.
He also selected a ring worth a
hundred and twenty francs, and
ordered it to be sent home next day;
and in five days the whole set Of
diamonds were to be completed.
Accordingly, on tie following day,
a confidential messenger from the
jewelers. repaired to the. Hotel
D., in the Rue de la Paix, and
inquired for Prince Gargarin. He
was shown into an apartment on
the first story. Five or six lackeys
were in the antechamber. The
Prince took the ring, paid for it,
and gave present OF ten francs to
the messenger, who joyfully re-
turned home, and Congratulated
his master on having so wealthy
and liberal a customer.
The ieweler, with the utmost
punctuality, carried home the dia-
monds on the day appointed. The
Prince was in his study, sitting be-
fore his cylindrical secretarie, which
was open. The jeweler handed the
ca0ket to him, and his highnest
minutely inspected the jewels; sud
denly one of the Wallets entered tht
room, and announced "Prinee Dol
gorouki."
All! my noble brother-in-law,'
exclaimed his highness. 81 do moi
wish him to see tle(present which
| | destine for his sister. Reques
him to stay in the drawing.room
and | will come to him immediate
ly." He touched the table, tht
cylinder moved and the secretairt
closed. The diamonds were in it
but on the table there lay an opel
box filled with leather bags, anC
numerous roleaux Of louis wer'
huddled together in confusion. Th'
/ ;eweler had observed all this treas
ure on his first arrival; but his at
tentiou was particularly ATTRACTED
by a large Russian leather portfolio
we'll lined With biIlets de banque
the edges of which were visible.
His highness left the room, say
ing he would return very shortly
The ieweler begged he would no
hurry himself. About twenty min
utes elapsed, and a sort of vagu
apprehension began to assail til,
ieweler, At length the doc
opened. Oh, Eere is his highness
thought he. But no, it was th
master of the hotel, who, stepping
up to the jaweler, said.
"Are you waiting for anybody!
II am waiting the return q
Prince Gargarin, to whom | hay
lust sold q SIT of diamonds for tw
hundred thousand francs. Are 70
his secretary"
81 am his dupe, aud 50 / pre-
hsume you are"
"What do you mean?- his dupe
: Impossible! The jewels are shr
mp in the secretaire. Besides, loo
4 at all this money"
lie seized one of the leather bag
, and opening it, discovered, to h.
horror, that it was filed with NALL
the rouleaux contained nothing
and the portfolio, scraps Of wast
paper. A locksmth was sent fC
to open the secretaire, and oh, no
ror, it was empty. 1t stood on OF
side Of the room against q wall
which a hole had been made, an
there being a corresponding no
in the back of the secretaire, Il
:. Jewels had, with perfect ease, bee
n conveyed into the adjoining apaI
q ment.
t,t q IL -. 4 -. q.