Year: 1874

IL was uurlnR Tue palulcSb uayo VI WV
Empire. Never was Paris so gay 1t
was the fete day OF the Emperor, the last
Pickering blaze of his greatness ere his
glory departed forever. All Paris
knew that he would grace the opera that
night, and add to its usual pomp the
glittering pomp and circumstance Of
power. Accordingly all that portion OF
Paris who had the necessary number of
francs, went to the opera, and, In honor
Of so great an occasion, Monsieur Blan-
watts, the director, was to produce La
Prophetic.


The overture was over. The Emperor,
accompanied by the Empress, radiant
in her beauty and glittering with jewels,
had Just entered the royal box; his suite,
uniformed in every order of the rainbow,
stood grouped in the background. In
another moment the bell would tinkle
and the opera commence. But in an
instant of time, when every sound was
heard, the second box to the right of the
Emperor was opened and the curtains
drawn aside, and revealed the lovely
wife of the Russian Ambassador, Duke
Metzkerwitch.


No wonder that the bell tinkled un-
heard, aud the curtain went up unno-
ticed. No wonder that every eye was
fixed with fascinating gaze upon the
woman who had just taken her seat, and
with well bred nonchalance glancing
about the house; for, upon her arms,
blazing like beacons, sparkled the dia-
monds of which Paris had heard so
much, and which royalty in vain had
sought to purchase. A hum Of admra-
ton ran through the honse, and then, for
the first time, the enchanting strains OF
the chorus we're listened to.


When the curtain fell upon the first
act and Milord This ogling Milady That,
servant wearing the imperial livery,
presented himself at the Russian Am
bassador's box, raped as only an impe.
rial hunkey can rap, and then entered
the box.


Her Majesty had noticed the bracelets
and was dumb with admiration; would
Milady be so gracious as to allow the
Empress to make a personal examina'
ton of one of the braceletsY


In an instant the fair arm was shorn
of its gems, aud with a smothered eJacu-
lation of delight, the man wearing the
imperial livery bowed himself out Of the
box, bearing the bracelet that a million
francs could not purchase.


The curtain fell on the third act, as,
cended again on the fourth; the notes OF
the finale rolled through the house; the
curtain fell for the last time, and still,
with we'll bred politeness, the wife OF the
Russian Ambassador waited for the re-
turn of her precious jewels. The impe-
rial party rose and departed, and yet the
bracelet was not returned. Then the
Duke. with q terrible frown, rose and
drove rapidly to the Tuileries, and de-
manded the return of the diamonds.


Explanations followed, and the Duke
was at last convinced that the Empress
never sent for the diamonds, and that
the man wearing the imperial livery was
one Of the daring thieves who infest the
capital. He bade his coachman drive to
the Office of the Project of Police, and
ere daylight one hundred OF the shrewd
est officers were searching Paris Tor the
missing gems. The Duke, filled with
anxiety, remained atthe Office for tidings,
while the Duchess restlessly awaited the
recovery of her bracelet at home,


The great clock had just tolled the
hour Of six, when the bell of the Duke 8
house rang violently, and police officer
was ushered into the presence Of the
Duchess.


Was the bracelet recovered, and would
they imprison the scoundrel for the rest
Of his days2 eagerly demanded the
Duchess.


With a grave bow the officer stated
that the tibet was taken, and upon his
person was found the bracelet. But the
fellow stoutly insisted that he was not a
thief. and that the bracelet had been in
his family many years. Would Madame
intrust to him the mate to the missing
bracelet, that TIE indentity might be
complete2


Madame, the Duchess, without a gord,
unlocked her casket, and placed in the
hands of the trusty officer the second
bracelet. The officer, with a profound
bow, left the apartment, and Madame
retired once more-this time 10 sleep and
to dream Of her precious diamonds.
When the bell tolled the hour of nine,
the Russian Ambassador, haggered and
disordered, entered his wiies apartment
and threw himself, in despair, into q
chair. Madame opened her eyes, and
with smile Of delight asked for the
bracelets.


"Satanl exclaimed the Duke, We
can learn nothing about themr


"Whatl" shrieked the Madatae, have
you not recovered IT'D The officer who
came for the other bracelet, said the
thief had been captured and the bracelet
found.


The Duke, with an exclamation o.