New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-05-19


and deposing it, without misgiving, in
the outstretched palm OF the imperi-
al messenger; Tor, indeed, diamonds
were almost as plentiful in the ex-
lstence 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 smile and
a gracious bow of dismissal upon her
majesty's distinguished ambassador,
who responded by a profoundly re-
spectful inclination as he made his
exit. Once safely outside the box,
the arlstocratic features of this high
bred imperial emissary suddenly lost
their serene expression of dignifed
gravity, and relaxed into a triumph
ant Mephlstophelean grin.
Shortly afterward Count Ivanoff
returned, 81 have been talking to
D. he remarked, as he seated him.
self. Clever fellow,D. 1 am not sur
prlsed 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 a difficult question:,
replied the count, smiling; ''there are
several editions of his BIOGRAPHICAL
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
a gentleman, which in these evil days
is something-even much. Tenez, he
has just entered the emperor's box
the man in the black coat"
els that NJ D." exclaimed the
countess, waking up to mild interest
in the subject; if so 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 VS."
Cd! Impossible! L was talking
to him the whole time was absent,
and ne only left me at the top of the
staircase two seconds before l return
| ed"
Nevertheless, mon ami, he has been
here, and has taken my earring See!
it is gone"
effectively" agreed the count, with
a grim smile; "but D--has not taken
it. 1t is to the last degree unlikely
! that the empress would make such a
request. Depend upon it, you have
been made the victim OF thief, gotten
up as an accurate copy Of the distin-
guished looking D.
"Impossiblep' cried the countess, in
| no foS &c lc~ ,+o1,
[ tell you. 1t was NJ. D., the verita.
BILE M. d see opposite, who came
into this box and took away my dia-
mond. 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 60 and inquire of D., if l can
get at him, whether he has been seized
with a sudden attack OF kleptomania;
because the idea OF the empress hav-
ing sent him roaming about the thea
tire, borrowing a lady's jewels regard
as preposterous. All these Partisan
titous! You do not know what scien-
titic geniuses they are in their way
With this the count departed, and
the second act was nearly at an end
| UelOEe he TeCurneQ.
In the meantime, the countess per-
ceived that she was an object OF inter
est to the occupants of the imperial
box, and notably to the "double" OF
her late aristocratic-looking visitor,
who she could still solemnly declare,
had stood before her in the flesh.
II was right, " whispered the. count,
re.entering and bending over his wife s
chair; D--knows nothing Of your
earring, and, needless to say, the en-
press never sent him or any one else
upon such an Grand. Ihave put the
matter into the hands OF the police,
and they will do all that is possible
| to recover it.
"Really! How very droll!" re-
marked the countess with calm non
chaence-for she belonged to that or,
der OF impassive statuesque women,
who remain mistress of themselves
though any quantity of 'china fall;;"
II will take out the other earring, OF
people may fancy l am trying to set
the fashion of wearing an odd one;;''
and she handed the fellow to- the pur.
lolned jewel to her husband
The play came to an end, as even
that most excellent feast OF reason, q
good French play, well acted, must dc
sooner or latter, in common with al
things mundane.
The countess was duly commisser
ated by sympathizing friends who one
and all declared, behind her back, that
they would never have been guilty O.
theimbecility oftrusting SO valuable q
possession to the tender mercies O.
however fascinating a stranger; but
nothing more was heard of the stoler
| jewel until the following day at noon
when Count Ivanoff received a note
from D. to the effect that, as hi
could not help considering himsel
partly responsible for the loss of thu
diamond which had disappeared
through the agency ofhis counterpart
he had taken an early opportunity O
interviewing the chief of the police
who assured him he had good reason
to believe the theft had already beer
traced as far as Brussels.
Early in the afternoon the countess
mas about to. start for her daily driv
! D.. ".