LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2102, 18 November 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE MYSTERY LOED BRACKENBURY A NOVEL. 1 BY AMELIA B. EDWABDS, Author of "Barbara's History," "Deben barn's Vow," &c.

(Continued.) 1 This is my expert,' said Lord Braokenbury. 'He is a lapidary—a very honest fellow, and well versed in precious stones. Hero Antonio—examine these jewels and let me have your opinion upon them.' The lapidary deposited his hat on the floor, made a shy obeisanca, and shuffled up to the tab'e. *Am I required to price them ?' he said, after eyeing the jewels for a moment in silence. ' Not to price them exactly j but to value them—approximately.' ' I could not undertake to value them with precision as they are,' replied the lapidary. 'I ought to be able to weigh each stone separately, without the setting.' ' I hat, of course, is impossible. But yon can form a rough estimate.' ' Yes, Signer -1 can form a rough estimate.' Saying which, ho took from his waistcoat pocket a file, a small magnifying glass of the kind nsed by gem engravers and watchmakers, and a well-worn stump of blacklead pencil. He then asked for a sheet of paper, and proceeded to a systematic examination of the contents of the three trays. One by one, he took the jewels to tne light, breathed upon them, rubbed them, tested each principal stone with a stroke of the file, and made a note of its probable weight, quality, and value. He was a careful man, and he performed bis task conscientiously. It took a long time, however, daring whioh the lookers on tried to keep up a languid conversation, and waited with what patienc? they could. When at length the last jewel was restored to its place, the lapidary, somewhat slowly and laboriously, cast up his column of figures and handed the paper to Lord Bracken* bury. ' And this,' said the Englishman, 'is your rough estimate ?' *To the best of my judgment, Signor: but—not being able to weigh the stones— I must naturally allow a wide margin for errors.' 'A margin to what extent ?' The workman hesitated. 'Diamonds are difficult goods to value, Signor,' he said. ' A very little weight more or less makes all the difference.' ' I know that,' said Lord Braokenbury. ' I—l may have rated them too high, and I may have rated them too low.' * How much too high or too low T I mean, what do you take to be the outside margin of error either way ?" ' Well, Signor perhaps, as much as twenty-five thousand French lire.' 'Twenty-five thousand French lire—that is to say a thousand pounds sterling ?' 'Yes, Signor.' ' Very good, A atonic. You may go.' And Lord Brackenbury folded up the paper and put it in his waistooat pocket. The lapidary, meanwhile, pieked up his hat, and with a muttered 'Good day, Signori,' went his way. When the door had olosed, Lord Brackenbury drew his chair nearer. 'And now,' he said, turning to the lawyer —' and now, Signor—the price ?' ' The sum named to Mi-lord at our former interview,'said the man in black. 'Fortyfive thousand ponnds sterling.' Lord Brackenbury shook his head. ' More than I can afford, Signor Moro,' he said. ' More than the jewels are worth.' ' Nay, Mi-lord ; the jewels are too oheap. My client, I do not give his name, unless we come to terms. In which case we rely upon Mi-lord's discretion—my client, to tell the truth, needs money. Political changes—unfortunate speculation—a too lavish and a too confiding temperament, have one and all contributed to cripple his estate. Mi-lord observes that we approach this negotiation in a spirit of frankness. Lord Brackenbury bowed. 'Sooner than still further reduce that estate by sale or mortgage,' continued Signor Moro, 'my client (being unmarried, and having no use for them) decides to part from his family diamonds. But he wishes to sell privately—and to sell privately is to sell oheaply.' ' I do not see that,' said Lord Brackenbury. ' Mi-lord, these diamonds have a European reputation. Two of the ornaments belonged to the Spanish crown. They came into the family when an ancestor of my client married a grandneice of Charles the Third.* 'That fact,' said Lord Brackenbury, •would not greatly interest a stranger.' 'But as a matter of historical association——' 'As a matter of historioal association, it does not, so far as I am myself concerned, enhance the value of the purohase by a single scudo. You are dealingly with me frankly, Signor Moro. I will deal as frankly with you. I am engaged to be married.' Signor Moro, beaming at a moment's notice, murmured something about 'a hundred thousaud felicitations.' •My family jewels are few and oldfashioned. If I buy tbese diamonds, I buy them solely for the stones; I look only to the value of the stones; and my first step will be to have them entirely taken to pieces.' * What a pity 1' ' Your client, Signor Moro. would_ not_ be of that opinion, If the jewels are historical and well known he would prefer that they should escape recognition.' * Well—yes; there would be that advantage. But on the other hand, Mi-lord, this • parnre,' if put up to public auction, would fetch eighty thousand p Minds.' Lord Backenbury looked politely doubtful. •One question, Signor Moro,' he said. ' Is your client open to an offer 7' 'Undoubtedly.* ' Such an offer as it is in my power to make must be based exclusively upon the market value of the diamonds. Signor Moro begged leave to assure his lordship that any proposition he might be pleased to make should meet with due consideration. Without unfolding it, Lord Brackenbury took the estimate from his waistcoat pocket. ' I am a man of few words,' he said, ' and lam not clever at bargaining. My first proposal, therefore, will be my last. I offer thirty-one thousand pounds.' The lawyer uttered an exclamation of dismay. That his lordship should seriously propose an abatement of fourteen thousand pounds was inconceivable —lhat it should be conceded was not only Inconceivable, but impossible! * It is for Signor Moro to aooept or reject." ' For my client. Mi-lord—for my client. And, " davvero!" I dare not go tomy client with such an offer.' Lord Brackenbury rose. 'ln that ease,' he said, 'I have to apologise for occupying Signor Blciotto's valuable time. And that I may not be supposed to havo unjustly depreciated the jewels, I beg to lay before these gentlemen the valuation which has just been made in their presence. My expert estimates the stones at thirty thousand pounds - but as he admitted that he might be in error one way or the other to the extent of a thousand pounds, I gave the diamonds the benefit of the doubt.' Saying which, Lord Brackenbury handed the paper to Signor Moro, and took his hat with the air of a man whose business is concluded. But Signor Moro had no mind to conclude it. 'One moment, Milord,' he said, with a quick glance at the estimate. ' I admit, of course, that there are two sides to a question of this kind—the commercial side and the non- commercial side • this paper represents the commercial side, and we are bound to give it a hearing.' ' 'lt represents the value of the diamonds ' In the diamond market,' said Lord Bracken- • bury drily. 'Their minimum value,' objected Signor , Moro. 'I do not think so. But why not call in another opinion ?'

Signor Moro and Signor Eicciotto cxchanged glances. 'Mi-lord Braokenbnry,' said Signor Moro, 'we may not accept your valuer's estimate with entire unreserve ; bnt we do not qnestion Its approximate fairness. To call in a second expert would be to imply a doubt. We should not dream of it.' ' It would be more satisfactory,' said Lord Braokenbnry.

'Far from it—far from it. With a little concession on both sides, we can come to • terms.' ' Sigor Moro.' said Lord Braokenbnry, 'we English are a literal people. I told you that my first proposal would be my last; and I mean it—to a shilling.' ' Mi-lord is hard—hard !' .And, half in admiration, half in despair, Signor Moro turned, as if appealingly, to the banker. _ Signor Ricclotto smiled. It was probably his cue to interfere at this juncture. 'Am I to offer an opinion?' he a3ked. 'CfrtaiDly—but you must tell Mi-lord that he is too rigid.' ' I do not think that Mi-lord is too rigid. Mi-lord has offered me a thousand pounds in excess of the estimate. Mi-lord ia liberal.' ' But my client!' 'Your client has placed himself in your hands, and will be content with such arrangements as yon Bee fit to conclude.' The lawyer hesitated, or affected to hesitate.

Lord Brackenbury looked at his watch. ' Signor Moro,' he said, 'I am not so unreasonable as to ask for an immediate answer. Take twenty-four hours and talk the matter over with your client.' Lawyer and banker exchanged a hurried whisper, Then Signor Moro spoke. 'My client,' he said, 'is at his Florentine villa. He seldom comes to Genoa. And, moreover, as Signor Ricoiotto has said, he leaves this matter in my hands. After all, it is I who must decide, and I may as well decide now as twenty-four hours hence. Milord Brackenbury, we accept your offer.' For a man comparatively so young, Lord Braokenbnry was singularly cool and selfcontained. There was no gleam of triumph in his face, as, turning to Signor Kicciotto and resuming his seat, he said, in the moat matter-of-fact way possible—- ' I have a credit with your house, Signor Kicciotto—a oredit which I think will cover the purchase money of these jewels.' The banker smiled, as bankers are wont to smile upon customers who deal in large acconnts. He was aware that Mi-lord had a credit upon the house. He did not know to what amount, but his manager had said that Mi-lord's was a large credit. In any oase, there could be no possible difficulty. Mi-lord might draw upon Ricciotto and Da Costa to any amount he pleased, and the firm would be happy to honor his lordship's signature. 'lt only remains, then, for Signor Moro to prepare his receipt.' ' Five minutes' work 1' said Signor Moro ' Will Mi-lord like me to wait npon him this afternoon—say, at five ?' ' The sooner the better, Signor Moro.' 'And what will Mi-lord wish us to do with regard to the jewels?' asked Signor Bicciotto.

' I should like tbem delivered this evening after dinner, at my hotel.' Signor Bieciotto bowed, and replaced the trays in the caßket. 1 Which are the Spanish jewels ?' asked Lord Brackenbury. ' The aigrette, Mi-lord, and the portraitring in the bottom tray. Ido not think you particularly observed the ring. It contains a miniature of Charles the Third surmounted by an imperial crown in small brilliants. But full particulars of each jewel are entered in the inventory.' 'lf you will be so good as to give it to me, I will take that inventory now,' said Lord Brackenbnry. The banker drew a folded paper from bis desk, and handed it across the table.

' Mi-lord is a man of business,' he said, smiling. ' Shall we verify the estimate before I olose the coffer V

Lord Brackenbury preferred, however, to verify on receipt of his purchase. ' I should ask you to take charge of these diamonds for a few more weeks, Signor Bieciotto,' he said, 'if I were not immediately leaving Genoa; but, this matter being settled, I hope to start to-morrow.' • For Borne ?'

' For Borne, by way of Pisa and Florence. I want, in fact, to pnt the work into Castellani'a hands with as little delay as possible.' • Mi-lord really intends to have the jewels re-aet V

' Unquestionably.' • But MMord will not travel with thirty thousand pounds' worth of diamonds ?' * Why not t Brigands, I believe, are an unknown luxury on this side of Borne.' The banker looked grave. ' That we are free from brigandage 1b true,' he said; ' yet for all that, I would recommend the sea route. The French steamers are excellent; and from Civita Vecohia to Borne, it is a pleasant drive of only a few hours.' Lord Brackenbury smiled dissent. 'I abhor steamers,' he said ; ' and I have an especial fancy to see the coast road between this place and La Spezzia.' ' I believe the roads to be absolutely safe,' said Signor Bicciotto, ' but not for the worth of the jewels would I take charge of them from here to Borne —above all, by a circuitous land journey.' ' Nay, Mi-lord, Signor Bicciotto is undoubtedly in the right,' interposed the lawyer. ' But some one must convey them,' said Lord Brackenbury, half jestingly, half impatiently. Diamonds are not like money. I cannot deposit them here, and take them out by letter of credit in Borne.' •We can forward them by Government courier to the care of our Boman correspondent,' replied the banker. 'And why should I rely upon the Government courier rather than upon myself ? He is more likely to bo robbed. He is known to be worth robbing. Who will know that I am worth ?' The Government courier travels with an escort,' said Signor Bicclotti. ' And I travel armed, with my servant, who ia also armed. Believe me, Signori both, I am perfectly well able to take care of myself snd the diamonds. Thanks all the same for your counsel. Signor Moro, I shall have the pleasure of seeing yon at five. Signor Bicciotto, I have the honor to wish you good day.' Saying which, Lord Brackenbury bent his he&d somewhat stiffly to each in turn, and left the room.

The door having closed upon him, banker and lawyer looked at each other, and drew a long breath. ' Ingleae from the crown of his head to the soleß of hie feet!' s»id Signor Moro. *An obstinate fool, and as rash as he is obstinate!' said Signor Eicciotto. 'Who but a mad Englishman wonld travel half over Italy with thirty thousand pounds' worth of diamonds ?' (To be continued.)