The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-03-08


That Is rather difficult question,
replied the count, smiling; "there are
several editions of his biogrsphy-all
different, probably none of them true.
he is successful, which is the chief
point; moreover, he is entertaining and
at any rate, looks and speaks like q gen.
tleman, which In theseevil days is some
thlng-even much. Tenez, he has just
entered the empersr's box-the man in
tie black coat"
els that M. D.-?" exclaimed the
countess, waking up to mild interest
IN the subject; eff 30, he has been here
while you were away. He came on the
part OF the empress, and carried off one
OF my earrings, which her majesty
wished to compare with one of the
Countess w. 's."
ID! Impossible. 1 was talking
to HIM the whole time 1 was absent, and
he only left me at the top of the stair
case two seconds before returned"
Nevertheless, mon ami, he has been
here, and has taken my earring. See!
it is gone"
Effectively" agreed the count, with
grim smile. ''but D. has not taken
1t. 1t is to the last degree unlikely that
the empress would make such a REQUEST.
Depend upon it you have been the vic.
tim OF a thief, got up as an accurate
copy of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
"Impossible!' cried the countess. in
her turn. 'The affair is absolutely as
tell you. 1t was Nj. D., the verita.
bic NJ. D--I see opposite, who came
INTO this box and took away my diamond
Only wait little, and he will bring it
back intact"
"To wait little is to lessen the
chances of its recovery. In any case, l
| will go and inquire of D., if 1 can
get at him, whether he has been seized
| with sudden attack of kleptomania:
because the idea of the empress having
sent him roaming about the theater,
borrowing lady's jewels, 1 regard as
| preposteIous. Ali these Partisan
| ftoatS! You do not know what scientific
geniuses they are in their way"
With this the count departed, and
the second act was nearly at an end
| before he returned
In the meantime, the countess per-
| cel0ed that she was an object of interest
to the occupants Of the imperial box,
| and notably to the double" of her late
arlstocratic-loob ing visitor, who, she
| could solemnly declare, had stood before
| her in the flesh.
81 was right" whispered the count,
re-enterlng ana bending over his wife's
chair: Cd knows nothing of your
earrings, and, needless to say, the en-
press never sent him or anyone else
upon such an errand. I have put the
matter into the hands of the police, and
they will do all that is possible to re-
cover it.
''Really! How very droll." remarked
| the countess, with calm nonchalance-
for she belonged to that order of i'm
| passive statuesque women, who remain
mistress of themselves through any
quantity of "china fall" 81 Will take
out the other earring, or people may
| fancy am trying to set the fashion of
wearing an odd one;" and she handed
the fellow to the purloined jewel to her
husband.
The play came to an end, as even that
most excellent feast of the season, a
good French play, well acted, must do,
sooner or later, in common with all
| things Mundane.
The countess was duly commiserated
by sympathizing friends, who one and
all declared, behind her back, that they
would never have been guilty of the i'm
becillty of trusting so valuable posses
| sion to the tender mercies of however
fascinating stranger; but no more was
heard of the stolen jewel until the
| following noon, when the count received
note from D--to the effect that, as
he could not help considering himself
partly responsible for the loss of the
| diamond which had disappeared
through the agency of his counterpart,
| he had taken an early opportunity of in
terviewing the chief of police, who as-
sured him he had good reason to believe
the thief had already been traced as far
as Brussels.
Early in the afternoon the countess
was about to start for her daily drive in
the Bots. The frozen snow lay deep
upon the ground, and her sledge, with
its two jet-black Russian horses jingling
their merry bells in the frosty air, stood
waiting in the courtyard while the
countess donned her furs.
A servant entering announced that an
officer of police in plain clothes asked
permission to speak with Nine. la Com
Jesse concerning the lost diamond.
"But certainly" agreed madame, gra-
ciously; "let the officer be shown into
the boudoir."
Into the boudoir presently came the
countess, stately, beautiful, fur clad,
buttoning her little gloves. Near the
door stood a short, wiry-looking man,
with keen black eyes, closely -cropped
hair, and compact, erect, military fig
ure. The small man clicked his heels
together and bowed profoundly in the
presence of SO much high born lowell
ness, while he said with the utmost re-
spect, at the same time laying letter
upon the table:
81 am sent by order of the chef de
police to inform Nine. la Comtesse that
the stolen diamond has been satisfacto-
rily traced, but there is unfortunately
some little difficulty connected with its
identification. am charged, therefore,
to beg that Nine. la Comtesse will have
the goodness to intrust the fellow ear
ring to the police for short period, in
order that it may be compared with the
pected thief. Madame will find that the
letter l bring corroborates my state
ment."
The countess glanced hastily through
the letter, and ringing the bell desired
that her maid might be told to bring
the remaining earring Immediately; this
was done. and the dapper little man,
bowling deferentially, departed. with the
precious duplicate safely in his posses
sion.
The countess descended to her sledge
and drove to the club, to call for her
husband en- route for the Bots. Cross
ing thePlace de la Concorde, she relat-
ed to him the latest incident in the
story of the diamond earring.
"You never were induced to give up
the otherr' cried Count Ivanoff incred-
ulously.
"But tell you, mon ami, an officer
of police came himself to fetch it, bring
ing letter from his superior vonching
for the truth of his statement"
Il, L r