The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-17
Selected Storm.
The Diamond Necklace.

London. Our house was an old and
well-established one.
1t was on bleak November after
noon, at little past two o'clock, that
the Earl of N, one of our most
respected customers, entered the shop
and asked to be shown some diamond
necklaces. We did not, of course, keep
large assortment of such expensive
articles in setting, purchasers generally
preferring to have the diamonds they
selected set according to their own taste
or fancy; but at that time we had two
in stock, which the earl, after examin-
ing, requested to have sent to his
house in R square for his wife,
the countess, to examine and, perhaps,
select from. He added that it would
be favor if they could be sent to her
that afternoon, as she was at home and
disengaged.
In view of the value of the articles
they amounted to in the neighborhood
of e3,000-I felt unwilling to trust them
to the care of an employee; so as soon
as some other necessary matters had
been attended to, / hailed cab, and
with the jewels in my possession, both
necklaces having been placed for con-
venience in one case, | ordered the cab
man to drive me to the earl's residence.
l remember it was half-past three
when / arrived, and / was obliged to
wait nearly half an hour before the
countess was at leisure to receive me, ow-
ing, she gracously said, apologizingly,
to an unexpected matter of Importance
that had detained her. The examina-
ton of the Jewels, conversation as to
resetting, and other matters connected
with the purchase, consumed the time
till nearly five o'clock, so that when left
the house it was quite dark; and after
getting into my cab and being driven
rapidly to our place of business, | found
my partner and the clerks had departed
for the night, and the safe locked, only
book-keeper and the Waterman being
left behind. / was about to open the
safe and deposit the jewels in it, when
it suddenly flashed across my mind that
in my haste to catch train that morn
ing l had accidentally left my keys at
home. / was living with my wife at
that time in RI, few miles across
the river out of the city, in a rented
villa, having been lately married and
not as yet decided upon permanent
residence. The villa was located in
what is now thickly settled neighbour
hood, with water, gas, police, and the
various city cOnveniences; but at that
time, nearly twenty years ago, it was
rather sparsely settled, and was what
might be called retired neighborhood.
Here was dilemma. 1t was already
past the time at which l usually left
business to walk to my train, the only
one which would take me direct to my
home for an hour and half. / knew
that my wife, who is at times rather
nervous, would be anxious if did not
arrive by the usual train. l dared not
leave the jewels without locking them
in the safe, and my partners resided at
quite distance, and in the opposite di-
rection from mine; besides, L might not
find them at home.
What shall l do? / must decide
quickly. So, after rapidly running over
the case in my mind, / determined to
take the jewels home with me, thinking
the risk for one night would not be
great.
Hailing, then, another cab, / was
hurried off to the Victoria station, just
arriving in time for my train, and duly
arrived home to meet with glad greet
ing from my wife, and to find bright
sea-coal fire and good dinner await
ing me.
During dinner my wife recounted to
me her days experiences. She had
been to the city shopping, and the con-
versation ran in light vein ON various
subjects, till the servant waiting upon
us, man whom / had lately engaged,
having brought coffee, and placed cigar
cites and taper before me-my wife
always liked, when we were alone, to sit
at table with me over cup of coffee
while smoked an after-dinner cigar
ette-left us; when, knowing the fem
mime fondness for diamonds, | pro-
duced from an inside pocket the jewel
case; and while my wife was admiring
the necklace, with bright eyes and
many an exclamation at their beauty, l
recounted to her the events of the
afternoon in explanation of my bring
ing the diamonds home with me. She
had Just clasped one of the circlets
around her neck, and was standing be-
fore the pier-glass in full blaze of
light to enjoy the effect, when slight
tap on the door near her, Immediately
followed by the entrance of our serving
man, caused her to start, put her hand
to her neck, and utter nervous eXcla-
nation, which might well have at
tracted attention to the necklace, aside
from the brilliant effect naturally pro.
duced by the jewels themselves.
The man had only come to ask leave
of absence for an hour or two; and
though felt annoyed myself at his I'M
expected entrance, yet certainly could
see nothing in his actions to complain
of, nor anything startling in the affair
and laughed at my wife's very appar-
ent nervousness. should say here
that the case, holding the other neck
lace, rested upon the dining-table, but
happened to be closed.
During the evening, after replacing
the Jewels in the case and safely re-
turning the same to my pocket, we
read and conversed awhile in the Ii
brary, and at about eleven O'Clock rose
to retire.
Just before ascending to our apart
ments, however, at my wife's sugges
ton and in her company, went abou
the lower story of the house inspecting
the doors and windows to see that al
were secure, though usually had lief
the duty to servant. Everything
seemed securely fastened except one
window, which, opening to the foo
from a small room called for conven