294 Pearls. 



object of his love was bedded on silk in a golden 

 casket. It was shown to few ; many favorable 

 circumstances and powerful recommendations were 

 necessary to obtain such a favor. One of my 

 Moscow friends who had succeeded in introducing 

 himself, and had received a promise that he should 

 behold the Pearl of Pearls, informed me of the 

 style and manner of the ceremony. On the appointed 

 day he went with his friends to the convent, and 

 found the old man awaiting his guests at a splendidly 

 covered breakfast, in his holiday clothes. Their 

 reception had something of solemnity about it. The 

 old man afterwards went into his cell and brought 

 out the casket in its rich covering. He first spread 

 a piece of white satin on the table, and then un- 

 locking the casket, let the precious Pearl roll out 

 before the enchanted eyes of the spectators. No one 

 dared to touch it, but all burst into acclamations, and 

 the old man's eyes gleamed like his Pearl. It was, 

 after a short time, carried back to its hiding-place. 

 During his last illness, the old humourist never let 

 his Pearl out of his hand, and after his death it was 

 with difficulty taken from his stiffened fingers. It 

 found its way afterwards to the Imperial Treasury." 



The Paris Pearls, i8;S. 

 It may be doubted whether any of the famous 

 Pearls of antiquity were equal in beauty, perfection^ 



