Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-05-20
A French Diamond Robbery,

lt was In the palmiest days of the
Inflated second empire. The triumphs
of the Crimea were not yet forgotten:
the laurels won at Magenta were still
verdant and fresh; Sedan, with ali its
bitter humiliation and disastrous
train OF tragic consequences, doomed
in the misty future, undreamed oil
amidst the almost fabulous luxury
and incredible frivolity which paved
the way for the final terrible fiasco.
Ii was an evening in mid-winter.
The Partisan season was at its height
and brilliant audience had assem-.
bled at the Theater Franchise to wit.
ness the performance OF Jules San.
deau's delightful play, "NIlle. de la
seiglierre, " in which the role OF Des.
tourneles was filled by the great Reg,
nier, and that of Helene by Madeline
Brohan, then in the zenith ofher fame,
radiant with youth, beauty, and those
destinations, the outcome OF innate
talent and refinement, which rendered
this gifted lady one ofthe most charm
ing and perfect actresses of modern
days.
The empress was present, graceful
and beautiful; the emperor at her side,
wrapped in his favorite mir OF gloomy
abstraction, which, like Lord Bur
leigh's celebrated nod, was supposed
TO mean so much, yet which, viewed
by the impartial light OF subsequent
veracious history, seems to have sig
nified so very little. Several officers
in glittering uniforms were in attend
ance, sparkling with decorations
showered upon them by a grateful
sovereign; and, among these gallant
warriors, conspicuous by reason of
the sombreness OF his attire, was a
solitary. humble, black-coated civil
ian III ordinary evening dress, with
the inevitable speck of red at his but
ton-hole.
In box almost Immediately op6o-
site that occupied by their imperial
majesties, was a young and exceeding
ly handsome Russian lady, the Count
ess lvanoff, concerning whose mani
. fold graees and facinations the great
world of Paris elected to interest it
sell considerably at this period.
The beauty and wit. OF this fair
northern enchGntress were the theme
of every masculine tongue, and her
magnificent diamonds the envy and
admiration of all feminine beholders.
The countess WAS accompanied by
her husband, fine man of distin-
enished, prepossessing appearance,
who looked an embodied refutation of
the celebrated Napoleonic aphorisn,
as Though no amount of "scrat ching"
could ever unearth the Cossack ele-
ment underneath his refined polished
exterior.
The curtain fell after the first act.
The emperor and empress withdrew
during the ontr' acte. Many humber
mortass followed th,ir example; among
them Count Ivanof, apparently in no
wise disturbed by the fact that the
golden youth in the stalls were bring
ing a small battery Of opera glasses to
herr upon the dazzling charms OF his
beautiful wife, with u brazen persist
ency which we chiyalrous Britlshers
l like to hatter ourselves is the monop-
oily of foreigners.
Tie countess leaned back in her lux
urious fauteuil. tanning herself dream
lily, serenely Indifferent to the interest
she was exciting. In the dim light OF
her curtain shaded box the glitter of
her splendid diamonds seemed to form
sort of luminous halo around her
graceful head; a myriad starry brill
iants gleamed among the masses of
her gold. brown hair, and two priceless
stones, popularity reported 10 be
worth that unknown quantity, a kings
ransom, flashed and twinkled like twin
planets in her little sheled ears.
The count had not been gone five
minutes when there was a gentle knock
at the door, and in answer to the
countess "Eutrez," the ouvreuse APP
peared and said deferentially:
Pardon, Mime. la Comtesse, gen
tleman charged with message from
her majesty the empress waits in the
corridor, and desires to know if mad
anne will have the goodness to re-
CtlAC Hltll.
Certainly Enter, l beg of you, mon
sieur, replied the countess in low
sweet voice which VAS not the least OF
her many attractions, bowling graz
ciously. as she recognized the distin-
guished-looking civilian she had al
ready noticed in close proximity to
the emperor in the imperial box.
The visitor advanced a few steps,
and, still standing in deep shadow,
said with grave dignity;
II trust my intrusion may be par
doned. am desired by her majesty to
ask favor OF Nine la Comtesse, and,
at the same time, to beg that she will
have the goodness to excuse a some
what unusual request"
"The obligation will be mine il can
fulfill even the least OF her majesty's
wishes" answered the countess grace
fully.
..The case is this" explained the
gentleman, in u tone OF well-bred ease;
ian argument has arisen concerning
the size OF the diamonds in your ear
ings and those ofthe Countess w. The
empress begs that yen will intrust one
OF your pendants to her care for "a few
moments as the only satisfactory
method of disposing OF the veXed ques-
ton. | will myself return it the in
slant her majesty gives it back into
my keeping"
with the greatest pleasure, agreed
the countess, with amiable alacrity
detacbing the precious ewelforthwith,
and deposing iG, without misgiving, in
the outstretched palm OF the imperi-
al messenger; Tor, indeed, diamonds
were almost as plentiful in the ex-
istence OF this fortunate lady as IN
the pages OF Lothian, and she attached
no more Importance to them than
did the jewel laden heroines OF our
late great and lamented premier.
The countess bestowed a smile and
a gracious bow of dismissal upon her
maiesty's distinguished ambassador,
who responded by profoundly re-
speetful inclination as he made his
exit. Once safely outside the box,
the aristocratic features of this high
bred imperial emissary suddenly lost
Their serene expression of digniiied
gravity, and relaxed into a triumph
ant Mephlstophelean grin.
Shortly afterward Count Iyanoff
returned, 81 have been talking to
D." he remarked, as he seated him
self Clever fellow,D. | am not sur
prised at the emperor's partlality to
him; he must find him so useful when
he is in want OF an idea"
"Who is d." inquired the count
ess, with languid interest.
THAT is rather difficult question, "
freplied the count, smiling; ''there are
several editions OF his biographical
different, probably none of them true.
de is successful, which is the chief
point; moreover, he is entertaining,