Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-03-21
PASTE OR DIAMOND?

PASTE OR DIAMOND?
Yes, it belonged to poor Turenne,
laid Wyse as he pulled the ring from
his finger and handed it to US for in
spection. He left it to me by his will,
gnd l keep it in memory of one Cf the
best actors and one of the best men l
iver knew"
Meanwhile the ring was passing from
land to hand, and the universal verdict
was that none of us had ever seen finer
stone.
"Turenne was rather II wealthy man. p"
Bald one of our little circle, 'but l
didn t think he could have afforded or
would have cared to spend SO much
money on an ornament as that ring must
have cost"
"He wanted it fer some special pur-
pose which afterward fell through, re-
joined Wyse. II know all about it, for
| bought it for him myself. had quite
a little adventure on the occasion.
"Tell us the story we cried.
''Well," said Wyse, taking pull at
his cigar and settling himself back in
his chair, 1T is a good many years ago
now. I was playing high comedy char
acters at the old Princess, and as l had
been working very hard set off for the
south of France as soon as the season
closed. 1t happened that Turenne, who
had proved himself a true friend to me,
wanted good diamond for purpose l
needn't trouble you with, and before L
set out on my travels l told him that if
I met with particularly fine one at
moderate price would buy it for him,
and he, being too busy at the time to at
tend to the matter himself, gladly con-
sented. I was staying at Nice when
there came to the hotel one of those tall,
loquacious Americans who are now so
plentiful all over Europe. There seemed
to be nothing Objectionable about the
man, except that he was vulgar and
eternally talking about the United
States.
''On the evening after his arrival a
few of us happened to be sitting in the
billiard room, and by some chance or
other the conversation turned on the
subject of diamonds.
6 L don't know much about the bust
ness myself, said the American, but
I'm told by good judges that thar's
about as good stone as you III see in
days round
80 saying he drew ring from his
finger and handed it to me, who hap
pened to sit next him. 1t was indeed a
magnificent brilliant. set in a ring of a
peculiar pattern. When the lamp was
removed, it seemed to gather into itself
the light out of the semidarkness and
glittered like bit of broken glass in
the sunshine What is it worth?' asked
one OF the men present.
That l can hardly tell you, an
swered tho American, 'seein friend at
Buenos sent it to me direct, and had
it cut myself But IN tired Of it and
seldom wear it,
Would you sell it?' inquired out
of curiosity.
Il might answered the American,
especially as this European trip is clean
in me out faster than l expected, and l
don't want to go home to Vermont
skinned as neatly as a cod. Yes, you
may have that diamond for $50 of your
money. stranger, and dirt cheap at that,
should say
81 looked at the stone again, and the
longer looked at it the more | liked
it. Eighty pounds was quite as much
as my friend wished to pay for stone,
but what if 1 could get one for him
worth e10O for ESQ?
" Will you trader he asked
~ am not judge of diamonds my
self, said I, returning the stone to its
owner. I'm afraid l couldn't buy with
out taking a lapidary's opinion as to its
value.
''All right said the American care
lessly; If you care to hev it. we can go
round to a jewelers. in the mornin.
And if he puts lower value on the
stone than I did you can hev it at the
price he names, if you like to buy. I
can't say fairer than that
1.-The offer did indeed seem very fair
one, and | went to bed that night deter
mined to secure the jewel for my friend
if the expert reported favorably on it.
"Next morning the American and l
strolled down to the shop of the chief
jeweler of the town, and when we en-
tered the place l first of all paid my
footing by purchasing some trife, and
| then taking the ring from the hand OF
my new acquaintance I placed it before
the jeweler and asked him to give me
| an opinion as to its value.
"A ver' fine stone, sir, said the
Frenchman. 4 congratulate you on the
| possession of so fine diamond.
| &c 1t is not mine. 1t belongs to my
friend here.
'Ah, if that be the case, then 1 con-
gratulate heem, said the polite trades
man.
What do you suppose it is worth?'
asked
oh, it is difficult to say, said the
Frenchman, struggling his shoulders.
Won gentleman sinks Won price NOR
for him; another sinks
- Yes, but what would you give if
you were to buy it? Would you give
1900 francs?'
The jeweler did not reply for a few
| oeCOHuS. LIZ pOppeu Hlo lillSlOsIOPo
once more into his eye held the ring up
to the light, examined the setting and
fell to making elaborate calculations
with pencil on sheet of paper.
81 do not often buy such large
stones, but l will give you $500 francs
for this one.
1.-The Yankee did not reply, and the
Frenchman, assuming that his offer was
accepted, placed the ring on Il little
ledge behind him and opened his desk
for his checkbook.
Not so fast, said Brother Jona-
than. The diamonds not for sale.'
1.-TWO thousand six hundred francs,
was the Frenchman's reply.
ssThe American shook his head.
1" Seven hundred-eight hundred!
"'No!'
"'Nine hundred-3, 900 francs! That
is my last offer. Pause, I beg of you
monsieur, before you refuse it. 1t is
large sum-, 900 francs And as If h'
were convinced that no one could refuse
such price he put the stone once more
among his own treasures and agall
turned round for his checkbook.
-" Thunder exclaimed the Yankee