Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-11-23
THE PLEASURES OF NICE.

THE PLEASURES OF NICE.
Tale of a French Confidence Operator Of
Lapidary Talent.
NsIr York Telegram.
The watering places and GUNNER and
winter resorts of pleasure and health seek
ers are frequented by crowds of cosmopoi-
tan adyenturers who eater to the happiness
of scandal mongers, and to the despair OF
too con6ding shopkeepeis. A stranger OF
disiinction-or so reputed-arriyes at Nice,
bringing letters of recommendation. More
over, as La Bruyere said most judiciOusly,
play with large stakes exslts man. 1t
was by skilfuI practice OF this profound pre-
cept that Count A. worked his way into
society.
Luck attended his play One evening
while shutting the cards he displayed with
some afectation q magnificent diamond,
which attracted the special attention OF one
Of his companions.
Count" he remarked, that's a 6ne
stone you have there.
Yes, replied the Count careleSsly, "the
size and briiliancy OF this diamond have
before now tempted many collectors. |
have had several good offers for it; but after
you have examined it I'll tell you why |
have always refused to sell it"
be took of his ring, slipped it on Prince
W finger and went on with the game.
The Prince, who is an accomplished
Judge of precious stones, looked at the dis-
mond closely, turned it on every side, and
wss confirmed in his opinion that he had
seldom seen one so perfect.
Well" said the count, do you see why
have refused to part with my ring?'
mo, / don't"
We'll" continued Count A., because
that stone is false. Don't be surprised; it
isn't less beautiful for that, and it has de-
ceived before this many amateurs Of your
ability, and not few jewellers, even. I've
seen some persist in their delusiou even
after had assured them that should con-
slider it an abuse Of their confidence to value
that stone at over six thousand francs,
though it would be worth thirty thousand il
( it were genuine"
The game was Just over, and the Count
walked away with his diamond flashing.
Days succeeded each other, and eve-y
time that Prince w. met the Count he
could talk Of nothing but Inc diamond. The
Prince said cften: There are people who
would be very willing to have their paste
/ Jewels believed real / am getting to think
that you are Of just the opposite disposition.
The Count would smile and change the
subject. His friend was possessed with the
I Jae,ra 20 fathnu, tho
viii you lend me your ring until to-mor.
row morning. said he one afternoon.
Keep it a week, if you like
The Prince took it to jeweler and asked
him if he had ever seen so good an imita'
| ton.
IAN imitation cried the tradesman.
You are laughing at me. That's one Of
| the most beautiful stones have ever seen.
is il worth more than $1,000?
1T would be cheap at 100000
Its owner says it is paste"
Hes joking"
The same evening the Prince returned
the ring, saying: IF you ever decide to
sell it. let me know before you offer it else
where"
Eight or ten DAYS afterward Count A. an
nounced his departure for Italy.
Are you going to take the ring away
with YOU
We'll. since you have set your heart on
It, said the Count, take il. But mind
that you remember it is false, whatever else
people NAV say. admit that the imita
ton is admirable, and for that reason it has
as curiosity value which is not less to me
than 5000 francs
Here you are-6 900 francs
IL repeat for the last time you are pay.
irg very dear for paste diamond
Perhaps so; but l do it with my eyes
open"
"All right; here's the ring"
And the Count pocketed his three humid
red Napoleons"
The Prince returned to his jeweler and ex-
claimed in triumph
81 have the diamond"
The lspidary looked at the ring again and
said. with shrug: That diamond is false. "
What do YOU mean-didn't you tell me
Just the oppositeg
Il told you the truth; that isn't the same
one. Show me the other one"
But that the only one have"
well, a mistake has been made-or else
YOU We been cheated"
The Prince, with detected air, went to
walk under the palms ofthe public garden
He met Count A, who said to him; "You
don't wear your ringp
Because" exclaimed the Prince, the
jeweler tells me that the stone is false"
But you knew that before"
He assures me, too, that this stone is
not the same that / took to him the other
day."
Count A. assumed a stern tone. How
now, sir, said he, what do you mean BY
rhis nonsense? Nou wished to buy my
diamond, and refused to sell it. l have
told you from the first that it was paste.
You thought Lwas mistaken, and that you
were buying for six thousand francs stone
which, lift were real, would be worth six
times that You set out, then, to specu-
late, as You thought, upon mistaken honesty.
| hate TO think it Of you. However, we
have no cause for discussion. admit that
| have sold you an imitation diamond; you