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In 1827 the celebrated actress, Mademoiselle Mars, who had a costly collection of precious stones, and who was frequently announced in the playbills as "wearing all her diamonds," was, in a romantic manner robbed of her jewels. She was absent from home at the time, and Armand, the comic actor, was deputed to inform her of the loss, and to break the news so as not to cause her too violent a shock. Instead of taking this precaution, he addressed her in a tragic tone, and said, "My dear friend, have you courage? You will need it--prepare yourself, you have been robbed of all your jewels!" With philosophical resignation, Mademoiselle Mars replied, "Is that all? You really made me fear a much greater misfortune!"
Gustaf III. (crowned King of Sweden 1771) when in Italy purchased two large diamonds, a ruby, and some pearls the young Pretender had pledged. After a long negotiation the king gave them up, noting in his own hand, "Est fait l'inventaire et la livraison depuis sept heures du soir de ces eternels diamans et bijoux. Laus Deo qu'enfin tout soit fini."
As costly "playthings" some have amused themselves with jewels.
It is related of the eccentric Prince Potemkin that in his latter days, tired of a life of dissipation and turbulence, he would sit alone on the long winter evenings, before a table covered with black velvet. Then having his diamonds brought, of which he had a prodigious quantity, he would continue for hours amusing himself, like a child, in placing them one after another in the form of circles, crosses, and fanciful figures, considering each before he placed it, and then admiring the situation of it, or removing it to another. On one of these evenings the thought occurred to him to weigh the diamonds; they were found to amount to several pounds; the most remarkable were what composed an epaulette of brilliants to the value of eight hundred and fifty thousand roubles; another of coloured stones of three hundred thousand; perfect rubies weighing from thirty-five to thirty-six carats, of inestimable value; the picture of the Empress Catherine II., pendant to yellow and black diamonds, in imitation of the ribbon of the Order of St. George, etc. He frequently amused himself by pouring his diamonds out of one hand into the other, as children play with little shells.
An honourable trait of character is related by Froissart of the chivalric Sir Walter Manny, who was taken prisoner in France while travelling with a pass-post from the Duke of Normandy. The latter, indignant at this outrage to one who was, for a time, under his protection, applied to the King of France for his release, declaring that unless this was granted he would never serve again in his armies. "There was a knight from Hainault, named Sir Mansart d'Aisnes, who was eager to serve Sir Walter, but had great difficulty in getting access to the Duke of Normandy; however, the king was, at last, advised to let Sir Walter out of prison, and to pay him all his expenses. The king would have Sir Walter to dine with him at the Hotel de Nesle, at Paris, when he presented him with gifts and jewels to the amount of a thousand florins. Sir Walter accepted them upon condition, that when he got to Calais, he should inform the king, his lord, of it, and if it were agreeable to his pleasure he would keep them, otherwise he would send them back. The king and duke said he had spoken like a loyal knight. Sir Walter then took leave of them, and on arriving at Calais was well received by the King of England, who on being informed by Sir Walter of the presents he had had from the King of France, said, 'Sir Walter, you have hitherto loyally served us, and we hope you will continue to do so; send back to Philip his presents, for you have no right to keep them; we have enough, thank God, for you and ourselves, and are perfectly well disposed to do you all the good in our power for the services you have rendered us.' Sir Walter took out all the jewels, and giving them to his cousin, the Lord of Mansac, said, 'Ride into France to King Philip, and recommend me to him, and tell him that I thank him many times for the fine jewels he presented me with, but it is not agreeable to the will and pleasure of the King of England, my lord, that I retain them.' The knight did as he was commanded, but the King of France would not take back the jewels. He gave them to the Lord of Mansac." |
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Precious Stones Vol 11
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