THE CHAMPION THIEF.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2719, 6 December 1881, Page 2

THE CHAMPION THIEF.

The Yienna correspondent of the London “ Globe” says :—“ Last week a certain Hungarian countess, well known for her riches and beauty (the same spirited lady who last year seconded her brother in a duel) graced with her presence the performance at the Aressa, or summer theatre. On one of her fair fingers my lady wore two splendid diamond rings exactly like each other. During an entr'acte there presented himself in her box a big fellow in gorgeous liverysix feet of the finest flunky imaginable. Quoth he, in finest Hungarian ‘My mistress, Princess P—, has sent me to beg of your ladyship the loan of one of your rings for live minutes. Her Highness has observed them from her box opposite, and she is very anxious to examine one more closely, as she wishes to have one made after the pattern.’ Without an intsant’s hesitation, the countess handed a ring to ‘Jeames,’ who bowed with respectful dignity and retired. The performance over, the two great ladies met on the staircase, and the countess begged her friend to keep the ring at her convenience. ‘ What ring my dear ?’ Denouement I Tableau ! the * powdered menial ’ was no flunky at all, but a thief, and the ring was gone. The police were informed of the impudent trick. Justice seemed to have overtaken the culprit in a very few strides, for next morning the countess, while still en robe de chamhre , received a letter informing her that the thief had been caught and the ring found cn his person, ‘ Only,' added the note, * the man stoutly denies the charge, and declares the ring to be his own. To clear up all doubt, pray come at once to the police station or send the duplicate ring by bearer.’ To draw the second ring from the finger and entrust it joyfully to the messenger—a fine fellow in full police uniform—together with a handsome ‘ tip ’ for the glorious news, was the work of a moment. Only when my lady, an hour later, betook herself radiant to the police station to recover her jewels, a slight mistake came to light. ‘ Well, my rings ? I could not come myself the instant I got your letter.’ ‘What letter, madatne?’ Denouement ! Tableau No. 2. The thief had got them both.