i24 17775 STR.A

and the *Jobsons" with them. In the afternoon I was conducted once more to the presence of the Sultan, and confronted with Cohen and his companions. * Jobson," us ' had Dbetter con- tinue to call him,

was a tall, impos- R

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“IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SULTAN.

ing-looking man, with quite a patrician casl of face ; but his uttuly dejected and scared cxpression showed that he felt the game was up. His wife was a little woman of considerable beauty, with a strong face and a mass of golden hair. She lmmulmulv struck me as a woman of an iron will and dogged dctermination, and 1 at once con- cluded that her husband was as potter’s clay in her hands.

Cohen was no less strikine @ he was cven a picturesque figure ; of very swarthy com- plexion, and l(mu dark hair falling in greasy ringlets about his neck and shoulders.

With singular adroitness the Sultan sub- ](,(,t(,d him to a4 MmMost severe cross-examina- tion ; and though the Jew with desperate effort tried to justify himself, he had to con- fess that he had undertaken the commission

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MAGAZIN,.

without duly inquiring how Jobson and his wite had obtained possession of the een. On his part Jobson did all he wull to create an impression that he was a greatly mjured man, and that the chaloa I preferred against him was a

g false onc. But it was verv clear

the t the Sultan did not bclieve him. And at last, under the mmpulse of a orcat fear, hc blm ted outthat the gem had Leen stolen, but that he was only the agent

o tor others. Whercupon

Vi N T . . . A L Y hiswife assatled = (I him with a vol- “‘““Wf!lfi? t ai S lev of abusc,

which corrobo- B rated my im- pression that she was pos- sessed of - the UL and the mind; and he was a poor weak

The Sultan was cvidently much con- cerned, and, though he had got ail the moncy back that I had paid for the cat's- cye, he scemed loth to part with the stone, and said that he would give his decision in two days. In the meantime, I instructed my interpreter to impress upon His Majesty that 1f he failed to restore the stolen pro- perty to the rightful owner, he would most certamly give ()ll(,ncc to both England and France. Whether this cmpty threat had any cffect or not, T don’t know; but at the end of the sc(,ond day he sent word that he would deliver up the gem to me in the presence of his Prime Minister of State and the two Ifrench officers, and that I should be free to take Jobson with me out of the country, but that, unless the woman of her own will chose to accompany me, shc should not be compelled to go.

The arrangement for delivering up the stone was dul\ carried out with considerable ceremony, but Mrs. Jobson, after abusing her husband for what she termed his piti- able weakness and cowardice,” said she would remain where she was, let the con- sequences be what they mloht

Having got possession of the stone, 1 was anxious to leave without a moment's