The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-17
By A TT h ur NJ Q ri

historical interest attaches IL .,~TTD ~
Is by empty one. AIlNoI
and all that be urged
against il is the common though
not always declared that i
romance expired fifty years at
least ago. and history with 1t.
This makes 1t seem improbable that the answer
to an unsolvcd riddle OF century since should
be found today in an inquiry agents dingy office
in Bedford Street. Covent Garden. Whether
not it has been found the reader may Judge
for himself though the evidence stops far short OF
actual proof of the identity Of the Mirror of
Portugal with the stone whcrcwith this case was
concerned.
But first, to the Mirror Of Portugal"
This diamond of much and ancient fame.
II Of Indian origin. and 1t had lain in the pos
session Of the Royal family Of Portugal in the
time Of Portugals ancient spicndor. But three
hundred years after the extinction Of the
carly line OF succession, the diamond with other
jewels, fell into the possession OF Don Antonio
one Of the half-dozen prctendcrs VINO were then
scrambing for the throne. Don Antonio. badly
in want Of money, deposited the stone in pledge
with Queen Elizabeth OF England, and
deemed it, Thus 1t took It's place one Of the
English Crown jewels. and remained Till the
overthrow and death Of Charles the First. Queen
Henrietta then carried it with her 10 France and
there. to obtain money to satisfy her creditors
she sold II 10 the great Cardinal Mazarin. lie be-
qutathco 1t. at his death to the French Crown
and among the Crown jewels OF France it
found temporary abiding place But once
more il brought disaster with IL i'll the shape Of
revolution and again king lost his head at
the execuoner's hands. And In the riot and
fusion Of the great revolution OF e! az the Mir
OF Portugal" With other jewels. vanished
utterly. Where IL 10, and who took it,
body knew. The Mirror of Portugal dis
appeared suddenly and cifectunlly though
fused vapour by electric combustion
So much for the famous Mirror" Whether
no, its history is gcrmanc to the narrative
which follows, probably nobody Will
tainy know. But that Darlington
sidered that it was. his the
ibundanily testify.
For some days before Dorrngtons r.
attention any way given to this
matter "A poorly dressed and not alto
gcthcr prcpusscSs ing Frcnchman had been
haunting the staircase and tapping at
the Office door unsucccssfuy attempting
an interview With Darlington. who hap
pcncd 10 be out busy. whenever he
called. The asked TO! Hicks.
Dorrington's partner; but this was very
natural In the first place 1t always
bennington who ali strangers and
conducted all negotiations, and in the
second, Darlington had just lately, in
case regarding society in Soho
made his name much known and 8
spected, say feared. in the foreign
colony of that quarter wherefore it was
likely that who bore evidence of
residence in that neiGhborhood should
come with the of Darlington
his tongue.
The weather cold. but the mans l.
clothes Thin and tlreadbarc. and he
had no overcoat. His face of
broad. low type, coarse IN feature and IS
small in forehead, and he the baggy i
black linen peaked cap familiar on the =
heads of of his class in parts of
Paris. He had called unsucccssful!y as
have said, sometimes once. sometimes
more frequently. each of three four
lays before he succeeded in seeing Dor :,
rngton At last, however, he intercepted
Il thn ctairS