NOVEL SWINDLING RUSE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2566, 28 March 1877, Page 3

NOVEL SWINDLING RUSE.

In Vanity Fair -the following capital Story is told, and which " guileless jewellers " would do well to lay to heart :— Some time since a very gentlemanly looking man, accompanied by his daughter, a good-looking young lady of about eighteen summers, alighted at the chief hotel of, a certain town in Italy. They gave themselves out to be English, and had among other luggage, four large ] boxes containing 'two complete sets of | drawers, like those used by officers in camp. ;They chose a salon and two bedroomvone of which _opened into the salon. As' soon as' they were settled these | drawers w.ere unpacked,,and one set was placed against the door in the salon; the, other oh the other side of the door in jtheCgentleman's bedchamber, the door in question being (like most of those in continental hotels) very thin. For some time all went on very satisfactorily. The gentleman was not extravagant, but liberal, and. waft-most particular in calling for his bill svery week and paying it to the' moment.' Before he had been many days in town he paid a visit to the principal jeweller and made some small purchases —in each case'paying cash and showing that le was well provided with banknotes. The jeweller was most anxious to press his new customer, and brought out' all kinds., of beautiful articles to — tempfc Mid, but at first his purchases were moderate, though liberally paid for. Ar the end of the month the gentleman paid a visit alone, and after making another purchase, observed that his daughter was about to bo married, and that he thought of sending to Paris for a act of diamonds. The jeweller could not allow such a chance to slip through his fingers. He had the most beautiful set in Europe, the property of a Princess ; he' was sure that only a Milord Inglese could buy them. The price was only 400,000f. Theinspec tion was' made, but no decision was come'to that day. The next day another inspection was made, "and Milord agreed to take them. The jeweller was delighted. He thought it would be best to ask if he should send them round that evening, but he received a perfectly, straightforward answer, " I do not keep so muck money, about me. I must draw on my bankers in London. I will give you 500f. to close the business, and the jewels you can deliver against cash in"the course of next week." The deposit was paid, and the jeweller satisfied beyond a doubt that he was dealing'with a most perfect'gentleman. Eight days after he was requested to call the. same morning at eleven, -and - bring the diamonds ' for which he would be paid. He arrived at ther?-moment, and* found his customer Iti hiss dressing-room, sitting alone at the set of drawers referred to, a front flap of which turned, down so as to form a writing table. The jeweller advanced respectfully anddaid'the casket open on the flapi in -question. Milord just examined the, jewels/ remarked- that, of' course he did not wish his daughter to know anything of the transaction at preand then proceeded to take out a Jrarge handful of beautiful crisp notes. At that moment the door opened, and in bounded the young .lady in question,'as the jeweller afterwards said, "just like a golden fawn." Nothing Was more natural- than 'that Milord should close up the flap and ask the young lady to go away, as' he wished to be alone. But she was a spoilt "child, and would have her own way. She had come to tell " papa " that the tailor .was waiting for him in the next room) and he must go., and that she 1 was quite sure the jeweller - would like her company better than his ; besides, she bad .a locket she could not open, and the jeweller must help her. The jeweller was not proof against the playful charms of the young lady ; he saw his goods safe —not exactly, under his eyes, but next door to it. So he begged her | * father to go, and he would wait. Milord I left the room, and the poor dupe enjoyed ' half-an-hour of delightful-flirtation with I the young lady. There was something , very winning in her ways/and then she was • a young bride. The time passed like a dream and at last the yOung lady passed off to go and kurry her father. The jeweller sat inmeditation ; his thoughts wero at first all engrossed with the sweet girl who had just left. Then he began to wonder how long his customer would be. Then he went and tvied the flap of the drawer. II wus 'all right;' it was locked. So he sat down and mused again. After some three hours he began to think ho must be forgotten. So he rang the bell and requested the waiter to just remind Milord that he

iwas waiting, but to: do it very politely. The waiter replied that Milord and the Signorina had gone out an hour ago. There was' nothing to do but wait, ami wait he did. Neither ri'turnocl. Table d'hote passed, and '-although ihe poor man began to have a presentiment that something was. wrong, the landlord was consulted, but was sure his •■.jjnesfc was a real gentleman, who^e only fault was forgetfulne.ss. ' So asrai.n he wailed until past the small hours of the night. At early morn the landlord again returned, and he also began to think .the case suspicious. The jeweller was furious ; he made a dash at the drawers' and with the aid of tbe poker, broke upon the flap. His next move was to take the casket. He thrust his head into the compartment, and sank back into'the armchair. He saw before him nothing but a square open void, leading into the set of drawers'in the next room. The landlord did likewise, and so did the waiters. Then they sat and looked at each other, and at last ordered restoratives for the jeweller who had fainted. <