The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-05-20
A French Diamond Robbery.

A French Diamond Robbery.
1t 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
yerdant and fresh; Sedan, with oil its
bitter humiliation and disastrous
train OF tragic consequences, doomed
in the misty future, undreamed OF
smidst the almost fabulous luxury
and incredible frivolity which paved
the way for the final terrible fiasco.
1t was All 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, "Mlle. de la
in which the role OF Des-
tournelles was filled by the great Reg
nier, and that OF Helene by Madeline
Brohan, then in the zenith of her fame,
radiant with youth, beauty, and those
destinations, the outcome OF innate
talent and refinement, which rendered
this gifted lady one Of the 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 air of gloomy
abstraction, which, like Lord Bur-
leioh's celebrated nod, was supposed
to mean so much, YET which, viewed
by the impartial light OF subsequent
yeracious history, seems to have sig
nifed so very little. Several officers
in glittering uniforms were ia attend
ance, sparkling with decorations
showered upon them by grateful
sovereign; and, among these gallant
warriors, conspicuous by reason OF
the sombreness OF his attire, was
solitary, humble, black-coated civil
ian in ordinary evening dress, with
the inevitable speck OF red at his but
ton-hole.
In q box almost Immediately oppo-
site that occupied by their imperial
maiesties, was a young and exceeding
iy handsome Russian lady, the Count
ess Ivanoff, concerning whose mani.
fold graces and facinati0Gs the great
world of Paris elected to interest it:
self considerably at this period.
The beauty and wit OF this fair
northefa epchGntress were the theme
OF every masculine tongue, and hel
magnificent diamonds the envy and
admiration of all feminine beholders.
The countess was accompanied by
her husband, a fine man OF distin.
guished, prepossessing appearance.
who looked an embodied refutation Of
the celebrated Napoleonic aphorism
as though no amount OF "scratching'
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 entr' acte. Many humber
mortals followed their example; among
them Count Ivanoff, apparently in nc
wise disturbed by the fact that TIT
golden youth in the stalls were bring
ing q small battery of opera glasses tx
bear upon the dazzling charms OF hi
beautiful wife, with q brazen persist
ency which we chivalrous Britlsher'
like to fatter ourselves is the monop
oily OF foreigners.
The countess leaned back in her lux
urious fauteuil, tanning herself dream
lily, serenely Indifferent to the interes
she was exciting. In the dim light o
her curtain shaded box the glitter O
her splendid diamonds seemed to form
a sort of luminous halo around he
graceful head; myriad starry brill
iants cleaned among the masses Q
her eOld. brown hair, and two priceless
stones, popularity reported TO b
worth that unknown quantity, a king
ransom, flashed and twinkled like twil
planets in her little shelled ears.
The count had not been gone fiv
| minutes when there was q gentle knocl
| at the door, and in answer to tn
countess "Entrez," the ouvreuse az
peared and said deferentially:
"Pardon, Nine. la Comtesse, a ger
tleman charged with message fror
her majesty the empress waits in tn
corridor, and desires to know If mad
anne will have the goodness to RI
ceive him."
Certainly! Enter, I beg of you, NOR
sieur," replied the countess in q lo'
sweet voice which was not the least
her many attractions, bowling gre
ciously, as she recognized the distir
guished-looking civilian she had a
ready noticed in close proximity t
the emperor in the imperial box.
The visitor advanced q few steps
and, still standing in a deep SHADOW
said with grave dignity:
| II trust my intrusion may be pa
| aoried. 7 aindesired by her majesty t
ask q favor OF Nine. ID Comtesse, ant
at the same time. to beg that she wi
have the goodness to excuse u sam
what unusual request"
"The obligation will he mine if I ca
fulfill even the least of her majesty
Wishes" answered the countess grac
| fully:
1.-THE case ia this" explained tt
gentleman, in tone OF wail- bred cas-
IAN argument has arisen concernir
the size of the diamonds in your ca
ings and those of the Countess w. TT
empress begs that you will intrust OF
of your pendants to her care for a fe
moments as the only satisfactor
method of disposing OF the vexed que
ton. / will myself return it the il
slant her majesty gives it back int
my keeping"
with the greatest pleasure" agree
the countess, with amiable alacrit
detaching the precious jewel Forthwith
and deposing It, without mlsgivipg,
the outstretched palm OF the impel
al messenger; ior, indeed, diamond
were almost as plentiful in the e
istencs al this fortunate lady as
the pages OF Lothian, and she attach,
no more Importance to them tbs
did the jewel laden heroines of o.
late great and lamented premier.
The countess bestowed a smile al
q gracious bow of dismissal upon b
y -