Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-11-18


The box was too remarkable to admit Of
the possibility OF mistake. Besid :, it
had secret spi ng, by means of which
all the miniatures could be taken out Of
their settings; ; and on the reverses were
painted similar subjects, but treated in
the style OF indelicacy peculiar to the
age OF Louis Nv. The circumstance
was important in proof of his claim to
the possession of the lox. " hen n.
T asked him to set value on it, he
said without hesitation:
Il consider it worth more than fifty
thousand francs"
Fifty thousand francs :" exclaimed
n. T; II thought it valuable, but
this far exceeds my estimation Of it,"
Sir" resumed the jeweler, II will
not retract what l have said. l am an
expert dealer, and to me it may possibly
be worth far more than the sum | have
fixed. | will make this proposition to
you; you shall take the rings you have
selected, and you shall put the box under
an envelope stating it to be ms property;
and, If it does not bring more than fifty
thousand francs, you shall have my rings
for nothing"
n. T was completely blinded by
this deep-laid scheme. He was good
connossieur of objects of ofrtu, and he
was not little gratifed to find his box
so much overvalued, and to be enabled
to obtain the rings without opening his
purse. The most exaggerated valuation
Of the snutf-box would scarcely have ex,
'eded seven or eight thousand Fl ancs.
He sent for two of his nelghbors, one Of
whom was notary, and the matter was
a ranged comformably with the jewelers.
prol osition. This being Gone the invalid
said
"Who will FIX the price of the box o.
"You, sir" coolly replied the jeweler.
Me? You are jesting !"
81 assure you, sir, l am serious,
would willingly lay good wager that
you will take the box at five hundred
thousand francs"
n. T directed at the two witnesses
look which seemed to say-the man is
mad, hut the jeweler added
"You will value It az that price, l am
certain you will. But first of all, l have
to acquaint you with circu instance
connec d with this box, which will en-
able you to perceive ITS real value"
n. T, full Of curiosity and anxiety,
90 sented to hear the jewelers. commu
nication in private. The two neighi ors,
taking the box with them, adjourned to
lie drawing-room; and n. T. and
the jeweer lett alone, the latter said:
"Sir, it is now about >iXt en- years ago
since that snufi-b box was stolen from me
and a short time after you robbed me Of
fifty Il, usand crowns worth of diamonds
under the assumed name Of Prince Gar
garin. have now discovered you. My
evidence relative to the robbery is on
re ;ord. You have declared the snuff box
to be yours, and | can prove having pur
chased it mt public sale. know a Sc
cret which will place the truth Of my as
3 rtion beyond doubt. Now, sir, tell
me whether you are inclined TO defend
yourself in a criminal suit which | intend
forthwith to institute against you"
Every word uttered by the jeweler fell
like thunderbot on the ears of n.
7. Overwhelmed with the conscious
ness Of his guilt, his imagination pictur-
ed all the horrors Of imprisonment, trial
sen cuce and the scahold. He reflected,
and t1e jeweler said :
" Sir, / give you five minutes to form
YOU determination"
At the expiration of that interval, n.
T, in "a lalterng voice, directed the
jewaler to open drawer, in which he
would ild outets dc danqucz for three
hundred thousand francs, payable at his
bankcr's that day. This being done, the
jeweler called in the witnesses.
"G-ntemen," said he. 81 have at
length convinced n. Tot the real val
ue Of the snuff box. You see the price,
at which he las purchased it back from
me-"
81 have given five hundred thousand
francs" said n. r
"Here is your box" said the jeweler
r, storing it, "and will let you have the
rings into the largan."
The notary, who was less amazed than
the other witness, said:
There is some mystery in all this"
"ProbaLly there is" replied the jew
eler IN. T may explain it if he
pleases for my part, | promise him
eternal secrecy"
With these words he took his depart
ure, leaving the witnesses in maze of
conjecture. n. T. though immense
ly rich, Che was said to possess upward of
three millions,) never recovered from the
mortfc ton attendant on this unexpect-
ed discovery. The jeweler faithfully nd
hered to his promise Of secrecy; but the !
s bite machinery Of the police unraveled
Il mystery.