Year: 1873

the empire. Never was Paris so gay;
in fact, it was the fete day of the EN-
peror, 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
luster the glittering pomp and circum-
stance of power. Accordingly all por-
tons of Paris who had the necessary
number of francs went to the opera,
and in honor OF so great an occasion
Mons. Blauvais, the director, was to
produce La Prophete."


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 color of the
rainbow, stood grouped in the back
ground. In another moment the bell
would tinkle and the opera commence.
But in an instant of time, while every
sound was hushed in expectancy, the
rustic of dress was heard, the second
box to the right of the Emperor was
opened, the curtain was drawn aside,
and revealed the lovely wife of the Rus
sian ambassador, Duke Metzkervitch.
No wonder the bell tinkled unheard,
and the curtain went up unn oticed; no
wonder that every eye was fixed with a
fascinated gaze upon the woman who
had Just taken her seat, an was calmly
and with well bred noncb alance glanc-
ing about the house, for upon her arms,
blazing like beaconS sparkled the dia-
mond bracelet of which Paris had heard
so much, and which royalty sought in
vain to purchase. A hum of admira-
ton, like the murmur of the sea, ran
through the house, and then, for the
first time, the enhancing strains OF the
chorus were listened to.


When the curtain fell upon the first
act, and Milford This was ogling Miladay,
servant wearing the imperial livery,
presented himself at the Russian am
bassador's box, raped only as an impe-
rial hunky could rap, and then entered
the box.


Her Majesty had noticed the brace
lets, and was dumb with admiration;
would my lady be so gracious as to allow
the empress to make personal examin-
alton of one Of the braceletsY


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


The curtain fell upon the third act,
ascended again on the fourth; the notes
of the finale rolled through the house,
the curtain fell for the last time, and
still, with well-bred politeness, the wife
of the Russian ambassador waited for
the return of her priceless jewels. The
imperial party rose and departed, and
yet the bracelet was not returned. Then
the duke, with terrible frown of impa-
tience, rose and drove rapidly to the
Tuileries and demanded the return of
the diamonds. Explanations followed,
and the duke was at last convinced that
the Empress had never sent for the brace
let. and that the man wearing the impe-
rial livery was one of the daring thieves
who infested the capital. He bade his
coachman drive to the office of the Pre-
feet of Police, and ere daylight hun
dred of the shrewdest officers we're scour-
ing Paris for the stolen gem. The duke,
filled with anxiety, remained at the Office
for tidings, while the duchess restlessly
awaited the recovery of her bracelets at
home.


The great clock had just tolled the
hour of six when the bell of the dukes
hotel was rung violently, and an officer
of the police was ushered into the pres
ence of the duchess.


With a grave bow the officer stated
that the thief 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 in his pos
session had been in his family for many
years. Would madame entrust to him
the mats to the missing bracelet that the
/ Identification might be completeH


Madame the duchess without a word
unlocked the casket, and placed in the
hands Of the trusty officer the second
| bracelet. The officer, with a pro-
found bow, left the apartment, and mad
ame retired once more-this time to
| sleep and dream Of her precious dia-
monds. Wneu the bell iolled the hour
of nine the Russian ambassador, bag
cared and diaordered, entered his wife's
snartment and threw himself in dis
/ ~ into a chair. Madame opened her
sves and with a smile Of delight asked
for the bracelets.


a thousand cursesl exclaimed the
duke. We can learn nothing Of them.


what shrieked madame, have
Won not recovered itf The othcer Who
cane for the other bracelet said the
/ tf;;,i had been taken and the bracelet
I found.


ne Duks. with an exclamaiss= e
amazcment Epraug TO be ieei ana in =