The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-11-10
Miscellaneous.
PRINCE AND JEWELER.
BY NJ. PASQUIER.

A jeweler of Paris one day saw q splendid
equipage drive up to his door, and a tall, +,
mportant-looking gentleman alighted from
it. He wanted lady's set of diamond orna-
ments, complete wedding parure. The
price was fixed at two hundred thousand
francs. Several designs were 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 jeweler deposit
of four thousand francs in JWets de 5anque.
He also selected ring, worth hundred and
twenty francs, and ordered it to be sent home
next day ; and five days after, the whole set
of diamonds was to be completed. Accord
ingly, on the following day, a confd initial
messenger from the jewelers. repaired to the
Hotel D, in the Rue de la Paix, and in
quired for Prince Gargarn. He was shown
into an apartment on the first story. Five
or six lackoys were in theantechamber. The
Prince took the ring, paid for it, and gave a
present OF ten francs TO the messenger, who
jOytully returned home, and congratulated
a customer.
The jeweler with the utmost punctuahty
carried home the diamonds on the day APP
pointed. The Prince was in his study. sit
ting before his cylindrical secretaire, which
was open. The .jeweler handed the casket 10
him, and his highness infinitely inspected
the jewels; suddenly one of the Wallets entered
the room, and announced "Prince Dolgo-
rouki."
"Ah my noble brother-in-aww exclaim-
ed his highness. II do not wish him to see
the present which / destne for his sister.
Request him to stay in the drawing-room,
and | will come to him Immediately" He
touched the table, the cylinder moved and
in it; but on the table there lay an open box
filed with leather bags, and numerous rou
leauX Of louis were huddled together in con-
fusion The jcweer had observed all this
was particularly attracted by large Russia
leather portfolio, well lined with 6iHets de
Janguc, the edges Of which were visible.
His highness left the room, saying he would
return very shortly. The jcwe,er begged he
would not hurry himself About twenty
minutes elapsed, and sort of vague appre-
hension began 10 assail the jeweler. At
length the door opened Oh, here is his
hghness, thought he. But no, it was the
master of the hotel, who stepping up to the
jeweler said
care you waiting for anybody ?"
81 am waiting for the return of Prince
Gargarin, to whom | have just sold a set OF
diamonds for two hundred thousand francs
Are you his secretary ?"
81 am his dupe and so | presume you
are"
"What do you mean his dupe? I'M
possible The jewels are shut up in the
secretaire, Besides, look at all this
| money"
He seized one of the leather bags, and
opening it, discovered, to his horror, that il
was filled with nails; the rouleaux contained
nothing and the portfolio, scraps of waste
paper. However, the jeweler consoled him
self-the diamonds were still safe. A lock
smith was sent for the secretaire was opened
and oh, horror it was empty, 1t stood OIL
one side of the room, against wall in which
II hole had been made, and, there being 8
corresponding hole in the back of the
secretaire, the jewels had, with perfect ease
been conveyed into the adjoining apart
ment.
The despair of the unfortunate jewelel
may be easily imagined The master of the
hotel, too, who had let his apartments TO the
pretended Prince Gargarin, had been ex,
tensively swindled. The servants all be,
longed to the hotel, with the exception of the
vatet de cAanlbre, who was the companion
and confederate of the Prince.