LADY WHITTINGHAM'S DIAMOND BRACELET.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 13, 28 July 1893, Page 23

LADY WHITTINGHAM'S DIAMOND BRACELET.

(From Vanity Faxr.) QUITE a large crowd had gathered outside one of the houses in Qroavenor place. And, in spite of the cold wind and rainy weather, it watched with considerable interttt the wealth of beauty aud fashion as it alighted from all manner of carriages and hurried up the covered steps towards the light and warmth within. It was Mrs Wynton'a first dance of tht season ; and since her daoces were much thought of, and her invitations sought after, they were always immense successes. Somewhat late in arriving were Lord and Lady Whittingham, who were a particularly interesting couple just at this time, Lord Whittingham, a nun of great wealth, with estates in three counties and a moor in Scotland, had somewhat astonished the world by marrying a lady of whom nobody had ever heard. It was quite a romantic affair. He had known her long before he came into his possessions ; bad made an offer which she accepted, but which her father peremptorily refused, because, it is said, he had in view a more wealthy suitor. When Lord Whittingham asked again, bowever, with all the glory of his wealth to back him up, the father said " Yes " with conbiJerable alacrity. Lord and Lady Whittinghim had been abroad since their wedding soma six months ago, and to-night was one of their first appearances in London. A<* nuny people hid never seen Lady Whittingham, they weu anxious to know her and judge for themselves if the reports of her beauty were correct or greatly exaggerated. Of course when ahe was seen opinions varied. The ladies who had passed the enviouß age, and the men, came to the conclusion that report had been too faiut in her praise. The ladies who now considered themselves the beauties and leaders of fashion thought that rumour had been too kind, and found many faults with Lady Whittingham. Judged without prejudice, there is little doubt that she was the most attractive woman in Mrs Wynton s rooms that evening. Dark, tall, stately, with grace befitting a queen, she was a woman born to be admired, yet so simple and charming withal that for every one, no matter what their temperament, she had a charm. Shfl wore little jjwellery beyond a very handsome diamond bracelet, one of her husband's wedding gifts. Lord Whutingham whs standing in a corner of one of the rooms talking to two or three friends who were congratulating him when a servant entered and hand"d him a card. "John Jefferson I' he mutterei, glancing at it. "Don't know him — never heard of him. Where is he ?" he asked. "Irs tbe library, my Lord." '' I will come, You 11 excuse me for a moment,'' he said, turn iog to his companions. In the library he found an unknown man in evening dress. " Lord Whittingham, I presume V the stranger said, advancing. " That is my name.' ' The other smiled and shrugged his shoulders slightly. "You do not know me. Of course. I am a detective. The fact is, my Lord, we have every reason to believe that a certain bracelet that Lady Whittingham is wearing to-night — yoar gift to her I believe — will be stolen." " Stolen 1" "Yes. Perhaps your Lordship is unware that several robberies of a daiing description have been committed within the paßt ye.ir ia London drawing-rooms. Y r ou see, there are men who obtaiu invitations almost everywhere, nobody knowing much about them ; but the mere fact of their being met in good society places tfcem above suspicion." " 1 have heard so, but h rdly believed," replied Lord Whittingham, " We have information which leads us tv suppose that the game will be tried in this house to-night." "I am very much obliged to you for the information. I will warn Lady Whittingham, and get her to remove the oroameat." " No, my Lord, thut is njt wifce. lam here from Scotland V rd to catch the thief, and your plan will be to frustrate him. Here is 8 common, though, I believe, exact, imitation of the bracelet in question. Do you think you would easily be able to tell the difference." From hie pocket he produced a jewel-case containing so exact a copy of the bracelet that Lord Whittiagham was astonished. Kvery etoae was representtd, and so artfully was the imitation carried out ijkfi en ordinary individual would not have been able, at a giance, to tell it from the original. '•It is wonderful I" exclaimed Lord Whittingham. " How and where could sucn a copy be taken ?" " The copy is easy enough. To make the sham look real is the hard part."

" Well," what do you want to do ?" " Just this," said Mr Jefferson. " Let me be an old and particular friend of yours for to-night. Introduce me to your wife as sucb. I can express admiration of the bracelet 9he is wearing. I can a-k to see it, and change it for this, transferring the genuina CUo to ihio c Be. Tljio will save ilie bracelet should I fail to catcU the thief. Then my task is eaey. I have simply to watch until the sham one is taken. The real one in the case I will hand over to you." "Bat Lady Whittingham may notice the change." "I think n it. You could, perh.ips, attrac. her attention at the moment she hands me the biacelet. It will make the deception easier." Lord Whittingham promised to do so, and suggested that they should at once go in search of his wife. "It is best to lose no time. By the way, what shall I call you ?" "Anything ; Duncan, if you like — Richard Duncan. You have no friend of that name who has already been introduced to Lady Whittingham?" "No." They went to the ballroom together in conversation. They found Lady Whittingham sit ing in the conservatory with one of her part* Dern, and even n that dim light the magnificent jewels on her arm flashed and sparkled. Lord Whittingham advanced with his companion. " Lucy," h« said, " I want to intn duce a very old fiiend of mine, Mr Duncan — Richard, my wife." Mr Dancin bowed, and took tho seat vacated by Lady Whittingham'a partner. "lam charmed to make your acquaintance," he said. "Lord Whittingham and I are such old friends that I hope you will not look upon ma as a 9 ranger." And he went on: "It seems strange his being married. We had begun to look upon him as a confirmed bachelor, you know." Lord WLittingham smiled at the ease with which the detective spoke, ana siid : "Ah, I kept my secret well, you see? " Foriunately, as Lord Whittingham thought, Lady Whittingham was disc gaged for the next dance, so they remained in the conservatory talkn g. "Will you pardon an impertinence ?" Duncan said, presently; "but what a magnificent bracelet you are wearing I " Lady Wbntingbam held up her arm. ' ' Yes, isn't it lovely ? One of my husband's presents " " I hope you admire my las c," snJ Lord Wnutingham. " Look at it." L idy Whittingham unclasped it from her arm. At the same moment her husband called her a'tention to a cjuple dancing, and Duncan slipped the bracelet behind him. VVneu Lidy Whittingham turned round again he was holding it in his hand, turning it this way and that to let the i lght fall upon it. " Very handsome !" be said, handing it back, " Allow me." and he clasped it upon her arm, telling Lord Whittmgham by a glance that ihe exchange had been made. Presently Lady W uttingham was claimed by another partner, and her husband and the detective were left alone, " ILive you done it 1 " "Yes." " The imitation is wonderful. I noticed it upon her arm, and I do not think ehe will discover the deception." " No, I think not. And now I will leave you and watch." By this time the rooms were full. Charming dresses, charming faces, and merry laughter. Even Mrs Wynton had excelled herself. The pretty little hostess was übiquitous. Not a dull moment was allowed. Lidy Whittingham was an attractioo to-night; and she rose to the occasion well, dancing unceasingly, and never seeming tireJ. Had she enjoyed herself less she might have had leisure to notice faow her husband's friend, Richard Duncan, followed her about, He was always cose at hand when she sat down with her partner. When fche was dancing he stood watching her. One or two other people noticed it. iSudden'y he bev-ame restless nnd more on the alert than ever, Lidy Whittingtum began to waltz with a m in who had not dunced much during the evening. He was a good dancer, and he and his partner sailed round the room talking pleasantly. Lord Wt ittingham had just then approached the detective, and understood at once the cause of his excitement. " Ib that the man ? " "Yes" Unconscious of the fate awaiting him, Lady Whittinghana's partner danced on ; and as they passed Lord Whittingham noticed that the bracelet no longer sparkled on his wife's arm. It was gene. The robbery must have been very skilfully performed. As they approached the detective stepped forward aad stopped him. " Your bracelet, Lady Whittingham ? " he said,

She looked at her aria. " Gone I " Her partner changed colour. " I must trouble you, sir, to come with me," he went on, turning to the man. "You had better come quietly, for it will be no good to make a noise. I saw you tak> the bracelet from the lady's •rm, and I may tell you that you have fallen into a trap. The jewel yon have in your pocket is a dummy. " The man did not answer. He shrugged his shoulders slightly, and walked across the room with the detective. "Don't be alarmed, Lucy," whispered Lord Whittingham. "I knew all about it. I was in the plot to catch this scoundrel." Here he went after the detective. He found him in the hall with bis prisoner, who looked dejected enough. 11 Ton will hear from us in the morning," said the detective. " Htre is the real bracelet ; and I would advise that Lady Whittingham do not wear it again to-night. This gentleman may be one of a gang," And he opened the case, disclosing the bracelet lying in its plaah bed. Lord Whittingham took it, closed the case, and put it in his pocket. "A clever capture, Mr Jefferson. Good night." The detective and his prisoner got into a cab which had been called for them and drove away. Such a darinp robbery could not long remain a secret, and before an hoar had elapsed everyone in Mrs Wynton's rooms knew what had happened, and heartily congratulated Lord Wbittingham on the success of the capture. Ho looked pleased with himself, bat he kept the bracelet in his pocket, as the detective had advised. When he and bis wife were alone that night, or rather early next morning— for it was 4 o'clock when they left Mrs Wynton's— he told her all about it ; how the detective had planned everything, and had exchanged the real article for the dummy when she gave him the bracelet to look at in the conservatory. " And here is the original," he conclude ', drawing the case from his pocket. Lady Whittingham took it out and looked at it, and as she did so a strange expression came in'o her face. "Harry 1" she gasped, "this is not my bracelet. Look at it These are not real diamonds." It was true. Lord Whittingham went to Scotland Yard and asked for Mr Jefferson. No such name was known there. A large reward was offered ; but Lady Wbittingham has not yet recovered her bracelet.