88 FROM AN EASY CHAIR 



time separates him from the last but one and the days 

 when the old traditions of the Arabians 1 al-chemy 

 were really treasured and the mystic art still practised. 



33. A Story of Sham Diamonds and Pearls 



It has been recently declared by a dealer in precious 

 stones that though diamonds and other stones can be 

 very well imitated, yet pearls cannot be. This is 

 hardly correct, as artificial pearls so well made as 

 to defy detection by the casual glance of any but 

 a professional expert are common enough. Who does 

 not know the pathetic story by the greatest of French 

 writers, Guy de Maupassant, of the wife of a poor 

 Government clerk, who borrowed a necklace from 

 another lady to wear at a reception at the " Ministry " ? 

 She lost the necklace (I forget whether it was of pearls 

 or of diamonds, or both); but she and her husband 

 were too proud to confess the fact, and purchased 

 another necklace exactly like the lost one, for a sum 

 the outlay of which reduced them for the rest of their 

 lives to a state of penury and social exile. They 

 returned the new necklace in place of the lost one 

 without a word, and accepted their fate. By chance, 

 the poor ruined lady, fifteen years afterwards, met her 

 old friend, who had long since passed from her ac- 

 quaintance, together with other prosperous people. 

 Moved by her former friend's kind reception, she 

 related the true history of the pearl necklace of long 

 ago. " Great heavens ! " exclaimed the prosperous 

 lady. " The necklace I lent you was made with 

 imitation gems ! It was not worth five pounds ! " 

 Too late ! Nothing now could give back to the 

 high-minded, self-respecting little couple the lost years 

 of youth passed in privation and bitterness. 



