Omaha daily bee., 1885-01-15
THE PLEASURES OLE NICE.
Tale of a FrenchIConhdencc Operator
of Lapidary Talent.

Atib VI ObNASSCA
of Lapidary Talent.
The watering places and summer an6
winter resorts of pleasure and health
seekers are frequented by crowds OF cos
mopolitsn adventurers who cater to the
happiness of scandal mongers, and to the
despair of too coniding shopkeepers. A
stranger of distinction-or 30 reputed-
arrives at Nice, bringing letters of recon-
mendation. Moreover, as La Bruyero
said most judicioualy, play with large
stakes exalts a man. 1t was by skillful
practice of this profound preoept that
Count A" worked his way into society.
Luck attended his play. One evening
while shufiling the cards he displayed
with some affectstion a magnificent dia-
mond, which attracted the special alton
ton of one of his companions.
Count" he remarked, chats o fine
stone you have there" EYES," replied
the count carlesaly, "the size and brill
lisnoy of this diamond have before now
tempted many collectors. / have had
several good offers for it; but after you
have examined 1t I'll tell you why 1 have
always refused to sell It,"
He took off the ring, slipped it on
Prince WIS finger, and went on with the
game.
The prince, who Is an accomplished
judge of precious stones, looked at the
diamond closely, turned it on every side,
and was confirmed in his opinion that he
had seldom seen one so perfect.
"Well," said the count, edo you see
why [ have refused to part with my
ring2"
"No, 1 don't"
swell" continued A, s"because that
stone is false. Don't be surprised; it isn't
less beautiful for that, and it has deceived
before this many amateurs of your ability,
and not a few jewellers even. I've seen
some persis1 in their delusion even after [
had assured them that l should consider
it an abuse of their confidence to value
hat stone at over six thousand francs,
though it would be worth thirty thousand
if it were genuine"
The game was just over, and the
count walked away with the diamond
flashing.
Days succeeded each other, aud every
time that Prince w. met the count he
could talk of nothing but the diamond.
Tho prince said often: "There are people
who would be willing to have their paste
Jewels believed real; j am &c ting to
think that you are of just the opposite
disposition"
The count would smile and change the
subject. His friend was possessed with
the desire to fathom the mystery,
evil you lend me your ring until to
morrow morniug2" said he one afternoon.
":Keep 1t a week, if you like"
The prince took it to a ~jeweler and
asked him if he had ever ssen 80 good an
imitation.
San imitation!" cried the tradesmsn
''You are laughing at me. That's II Of
the most beautiful stones | have ever
'Is it worth more than 6,000f?'
st would be cheap at 100000"
'tIt's owner says It's paats."
"He's joking"
That same evening the primes returned
the ring, saying: eff you ever decide to
sell it, let me know before you offer it
Eight or ten nays afterward Count A.
announced his departure sor Italy.
care you going to take the ring away
with you2"
"Well since you have set your heart on
it," said the count, ''take it. But mind
that you remember it is false, whatever
else people may say. l admit that the
imitation is admirable, and for that rea-
son it has as a curiosity the value which
is not less to me than 5000 ffancs."
"Here you are-6,000 francs"
81 repeat for the last time, you are pay.
ing very dear for c paste diamond"
"Perhaps so; but ! do it with my eyes
"All right; here's the ring"
And the count pocketed his three hun
dred Napoleons
The plince returned to his ieweller and
exclaimed in triumph
81 have the diamond"
The lapidary looked at the ring again
and said; with a shrug, 'Ihat diamond
is false"
"What do you ~mean-didn't you tell
just the opposite.
81 told you the truth; that isn't the
one. Show me the other one"
"But that's the only one | have"
swell, a mistake has been made-or
else you've been cheated"
The prince with detected air went to
walk under the palma of the public gar
den. de met A, who said TO him.
''You don't wear your ring!"
because" exclaimed the prince, 'the
jewelsr' told me hat the stone is false"
"But you knew that before"
she assures me, too, that this stone Ia
not the same that l took him the other
A. assumed @ stern air. "How
now, sir" said he, "what do you mean
by this nonsenae2 You wished to buy
my diamond, and | refused to sell 1t. |
have told you from the first that 1t was
paste. You thought 1 was mistaken, and
that you were buying for six thousand
francs a stone which, if 1t were real,
would be worth six times that. You set
cut then, to speculate, as you thought.
upon mistake en- honesty. | hate to think
1t of you. However, We have no cause
for discussion. / admit that ] have sold
you an imitation diamond; you say so,
too. We agree perfectly. Good day"
s~tagelSoms de Plume.
pnstn, To,rnoI