Evening star., 1928-04-07

. merchant who dealt only In what.
Tor want Of . better term. may be de-
scribed as priceless things. and his
trade. far from being confined TO the
incOnspicuous. though ancient, city OF
Edelweiss. extended TO such places as
the Royal Palace in st. Petersburg. the
Emperor's Castle in Vienna, the homes
Of the kings OF italy and Spain and
Belgium. Certain notable actresses OF
the day, reigning In domains comfort
ably accessible TO lavish spen6thriftS,
were known 10 be figuraftvely
more or less inpartially "Srnoths-eo
with pearls and diamonds and rubies
that had passed through the HANDS OF
Leopold Matthias. the second
His place Of business at EdelweiSs
was in Regengetz Circus, almost oppo-
kite the entrance to Castle avenue. The
first floor was occupied by the banking
concern Of T. Biotg a. Sons. The
sl1rewd purveyDr Of gems was member
or the firm, although his connection
was known only TO q few noblemen
who were as slIrTeptitiousiy interested
as he In the conduct Of the reputable.
IL somewhat unpopular. establishment
OF z Blotz & Sons. "A duke. marquis
and a count we're among the subrosa
hackers of this uSurious concern. To be
8E Sons. nor did Leopold Matthias.
But this has nothing 70 do with the
story Of Gerane Davos. And, for fear
that the reader may be mtsled into be-
EeviTg that Leopold Matthias Is TO be-
come q permanent character IN the
narrative. IL is only proper 10 state here
and now that his only excuse for COM
ing into it lies IN the fact that he fared
forth on the morning Of September 10,
bent on transporting over the King .
highway certain precious stones and
ornaments intended TOR dispersal
among ladies Of high estate in st.
Petersburg And this journey Of his
would have been no different from
dozens Of similar trips over period OF
20 or IS years had II not happened 10
be eo-incidentai with the nineteenth
birthday Of the daughter OF Joaiier
Davos.
Nevertheless, Leopold Matthias was a
person Of importance. His position IN
Edeiweiss was unique. He was the cnly
merchant In the capital who could
truthfuily say that royalty itsei. ~ Ile
person Of the recently deceased ana
greatly lamented Prince. had, since
earliest boyhooc called him by his first
name, while every nobieman IN the land
addressed him as "Leppy." And
ducheSses, cour,tesSes and baroncSses
bowed 70 him and called him Mr.
Matthias. Nearly al Of them owed him
money.
Among those on friendly terms with
the merchant we're Count Emlen Jab-
esSy and his wife. the Countess Kat
rane. The latter. direct descendant
OF the "pretender" duke. who, several
generations back. had tried 70 ougt his
haif-brother from the throne Of Grau-
stark, was one OF the most popular
women az court. Notwithstanding her
relationship 70 that distant. tnwarted
rebel who had been publicly behea0ed
Her own great-grandfather, then a boy
Rad been whiEked 70 Paris by his
mother and escaped the fate that be-
fell the wouId-be usurper's family and
such o. his followers as were not able
% escape. He was the only son OF the
GOsetoale duke.
The estates of this rebel half-brothef
were confscatec by the Crown and the
title abolished All that part of Graus
stark lying west Of GanlOok, including
the forest of DTOon. had belonged u
Che duke by virtue of q royal decree is