STORY OF A ROPE OF PEARLS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3654, 31 March 1883, Page 4

STORY OF A ROPE OF PEARLS.

The Countess of L., a great lady moving in the Court circles of Alenna, is passionately fond of pearls. In fact, she is the female counterpart of Lord Topaz in "Lothair." A few days ago the countess received a visit from her jeweller, Avho very strougly recommended of her to become; the purchaser of a most magnificent "rope of pearls." "They are quite unique, nmdame, I assure you," said the jeweller : "and the price to*.wis only a hundred thousand .florins." "Only "a hundred thousand florins !" repeated the countess, with a smile: ""but n iiu/iorle, let me have a look at your gems. I feel strong to resist the temptation to buy." Thereupon the jeweller opened the casket which contained' his treasure, and displayed a string of pearls of such faultless beauty that Lothair himself would have been proud to present them to the Lady Corisande. Meanwhile the opening of the casket acted like magic upon tho couute.-s. No sooner had she caught sight of its contents than she overwhelmed the jeweller with a Lea]' of questions. "AVhere- when how did you come by those pearls. Air : 1 low much did you give -J mean, from whom did you buy them ';" "' 1 did not l»nt them al all." replied tJi<: astonished jeweller: "neither do they belong to nie. They weve merely intrusted to nu; to sell on commission." At the request of the countess, a footman was at once dispatched to bring the lady. After a brief delay, the lady arrived :" young, handsome, and elegantly dressed." She listened Avith a subdued smile to the series of questions addressed to her. Nettled, but still retaining the command oilier temper, the countess avouiul up by tiiuching a secret spring in the fastening of the necklace. "There," she exclaimed, pointing te> her anus and motto engraved on "the side of the fastening, "however you came into the possession of these pearls, you will hardly venture to dispute that they bcloiig to me. Four years ago they sudtl.iily disappeared from my jewel ease, and Jiowj after all inquiry had proved fruitless, Ihey are found with you. I am under great obligations to the lady Avho has restored to me that which is my own." In answer to this tirade the lady uttered not a word, but opening it small reticule Avhich she carried in her hand, produced a highlysecnted li'.llrt-ilijux, and handed it to the countess, who started and swooned immediately. On recovering consciousness she Aveu't straight t> her Avriting table, wrote a cheque demanded by the lady and and gave it to her Avithout uttering a single word. Tho hi.lti-t-doe.c was the hand-writ-ing of the cemnte.-s's only son.