United States or Angola ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Well, there's the old amateur theatrical method," said I. "Have a little play here, reproduce Mrs. Rockerbilt's tiara in paste for one of the characters to wear, substitute the spurious for the real, and there you are." "That is a good idea," said Henriette; "only I hate amateur theatricals. I'll think it over." A few days later my mistress summoned me again.
"Palm Beach. I have always wanted to go there." "And the one hundred thousand dollars how do you propose to get that?" I demanded. "I shall give a lawn-fête and bazaar for the benefit of the fund. It will differ from Mrs. Rockerbilt's tea in that I shall charge ten dollars admission, ten dollars to get out, and we shall sell things besides. I have already spoken to Mrs.
"There are splendid opportunities for acquiring the gems these Newport ladies wear by one who may be stationed in the dressing-room. There is Mrs. Rockerbilt's tiara, for instance. It is at present the finest thing of its kind in existence and of priceless value.
Rockerbilt make any charge for admission to these teas you say they are for the benefit of the Fresh-Air Fund?" "Oh no, indeed," said I. "It is purely a private charity. The youngsters get their ten days in the country, learn good manners, and Newport society has a pleasant afternoon all at Mrs. Rockerbilt's expense." "H'm!" said Henriette, pensively. "H'm! I think there is a better method.
Rockerbilt's side with the fish platter in my hand out went the light; crash went my elbow into the lady's stunning coiffure; her little, well-modulated scream of surprise rent the air, and, flash, back came the lights again. All was as Henriette had foretold, Mrs. Rockerbilt's lovely blond locks were frightfully demoralized, and the famous tiara with it had slid aslant athwart her cheek.
The following Tuesday afternoon brought to my New York apartment for of course Mrs. Raffles did not give Sikes her right name an absolutely faultless copy of Mrs. Rockerbilt's chiefest glory.
"And that is why I don't propose any such idiotic performance. You will merely stumble in the dark and manage your elbow so awkwardly that Mrs. Rockerbilt's coiffure will be entirely disarranged by it. She will scream, of course, and I will instantly restore the light, after which I will attend to the substitution. Now don't fail me and the tiara will be ours."
Rockerbilt's head, for she was quite close enough to make this possible, but the vulgarity of such an operation was so very evident that I put it aside almost as soon as thought of. And I have always remembered dear old Raffles's remark, "Take everything in sight, Bunny," he used to say; "but, damn it, do it like a gentleman, not a professional."
"They have been playing on the lawns since seven o'clock this morning, and I've lost quite two hours' sleep because of their chatter." "They are children from Mrs. Rockerbilt's Fresh-Air Society," I explained, for I, too, had been annoyed by the loud pranks of the youngsters and had made inquiries as to their identity. "Every summer, Digby, Mr. de Pelt's valet, tells me, Mrs.
Word Of The Day