New Arabian Nights

The Adventure of Prince Florizel and a Detective

Prince Florizel walked with Mr. Rolles to the door of a small hotel

where the latter resided. They spoke much together, and the

clergyman was more than once affected to tears by the mingled

severity and tenderness of Florizel's reproaches.

"I have made ruin of my life," he said at last. "Help me; tell me

what I am to do; I have, alas! neither the virtues of a priest nor

the dexterity of a rogue."

"Now that you are humbled," said the Prince, "I command no longer;

the repentant have to do with God and not with princes. But if you

will let me advise you, go to Australia as a colonist, seek menial

labour in the open air, and try to forget that you have ever been a

clergyman, or that you ever set eyes on that accursed stone."

"Accurst indeed!" replied Mr. Rolles. "Where is it now? What

further hurt is it not working for mankind?"

"It will do no more evil," returned the Prince. "It is here in my

pocket. And this," he added kindly, "will show that I place some

faith in your penitence, young as it is."

"Suffer me to touch your hand," pleaded Mr. Rolles.

"No," replied Prince Florizel, "not yet."

The tone in which he uttered these last words was eloquent in the

ears of the young clergyman; and for some minutes after the Prince

had turned away he stood on the threshold following with his eyes

the retreating figure and invoking the blessing of heaven upon a

man so excellent in counsel.

For several hours the Prince walked alone in unfrequented streets.

His mind was full of concern; what to do with the diamond, whether

to return it to its owner, whom he judged unworthy of this rare

possession, or to take some sweeping and courageous measure and put

it out of the reach of all mankind at once and for ever, was a

problem too grave to be decided in a moment. The manner in which

it had come into his hands appeared manifestly providential; and as

he took out the jewel and looked at it under the street lamps, its

size and surprising brilliancy inclined him more and more to think

of it as of an unmixed and dangerous evil for the world.

"God help me!" he thought; "if I look at it much oftener, I shall

begin to grow covetous myself."

At last, though still uncertain in his mind, he turned his steps

towards the small but elegant mansion on the river-side which had

belonged for centuries to his royal family. The arms of Bohemia

are deeply graved over the door and upon the tall chimneys;

passengers have a look into a green court set with the most costly

flowers, and a stork, the only one in Paris, perches on the gable

all day long and keeps a crowd before the house. Grave servants

are seen passing to and fro within; and from time to time the great

gate is thrown open and a carriage rolls below the arch. For many

reasons this residence was especially dear to the heart of Prince

Florizel; he never drew near to it without enjoying that sentiment

of home-coming so rare in the lives of the great; and on the

present evening he beheld its tall roof and mildly illuminated

windows with unfeigned relief and satisfaction.

As he was approaching the postern door by which he always entered

when alone, a man stepped forth from the shadow and presented

himself with an obeisance in the Prince's path.

"I have the honour of addressing Prince Florizel of Bohemia?" said

he.

"Such is my title," replied the Prince. "What do you want with

me?"

"I am," said the man, "a detective, and I have to present your

Highness with this billet from the Prefect of Police."

The Prince took the letter and glanced it through by the light of

the street lamp. It was highly apologetic, but requested him to

follow the bearer to the Prefecture without delay.

"In short," said Florizel, "I am arrested."

"Your Highness," replied the officer, "nothing, I am certain, could

be further from the intention of the Prefect. You will observe

that he has not granted a warrant. It is mere formality, or call

it, if you prefer, an obligation that your Highness lays on the

authorities."

"At the same time," asked the Prince, "if I were to refuse to

follow you?"

"I will not conceal from your Highness that a considerable

discretion has been granted me," replied the detective with a bow.

"Upon my word," cried Florizel, "your effrontery astounds me!

Yourself, as an agent, I must pardon; but your superiors shall

dearly smart for their misconduct. What, have you any idea, is the

cause of this impolitic and unconstitutional act? You will observe

that I have as yet neither refused nor consented, and much may

depend on your prompt and ingenuous answer. Let me remind you,

officer, that this is an affair of some gravity."

"Your Highness," said the detective humbly, "General Vandeleur and

his brother have had the incredible presumption to accuse you of

theft. The famous diamond, they declare, is in your hands. A word

from you in denial will most amply satisfy the Prefect; nay, I go

farther: if your Highness would so far honour a subaltern as to

declare his ignorance of the matter even to myself, I should ask

permission to retire upon the spot."

Florizel, up to the last moment, had regarded his adventure in the

light of a trifle, only serious upon international considerations.

At the name of Vandeleur the horrible truth broke upon him in a

moment; he was not only arrested, but he was guilty. This was not

only an annoying incident - it was a peril to his honour. What was

he to say? What was he to do? The Rajah's Diamond was indeed an

accursed stone; and it seemed as if he were to be the last victim

to its influence.

One thing was certain. He could not give the required assurance to

the detective. He must gain time.

His hesitation had not lasted a second.

"Be it so," said he, "let us walk together to the Prefecture."

The man once more bowed, and proceeded to follow Florizel at a

respectful distance in the rear.

"Approach," said the Prince. "I am in a humour to talk, and, if I

mistake not, now I look at you again, this is not the first time

that we have met."

"I count it an honour," replied the officer, "that your Highness

should recollect my face. It is eight years since I had the

pleasure of an interview."

"To remember faces," returned Florizel, "is as much a part of my

profession as it is of yours. Indeed, rightly looked upon, a

Prince and a detective serve in the same corps. We are both

combatants against crime; only mine is the more lucrative and yours

the more dangerous rank, and there is a sense in which both may be

made equally honourable to a good man. I had rather, strange as

you may think it, be a detective of character and parts than a weak

and ignoble sovereign."

The officer was overwhelmed.

"Your Highness returns good for evil," said he. "To an act of

presumption he replies by the most amiable condescension."

"How do you know," replied Florizel, "that I am not seeking to

corrupt you?"

"Heaven preserve me from the temptation!" cried the detective.

"I applaud your answer," returned the Prince. "It is that of a

wise and honest man. The world is a great place and stocked with

wealth and beauty, and there is no limit to the rewards that may be

offered. Such an one who would refuse a million of money may sell

his honour for an empire or the love of a woman; and I myself, who

speak to you, have seen occasions so tempting, provocations so

irresistible to the strength of human virtue, that I have been glad

to tread in your steps and recommend myself to the grace of God.

It is thus, thanks to that modest and becoming habit alone," he

added, "that you and I can walk this town together with untarnished

hearts."

"I had always heard that you were brave," replied the officer, "but

I was not aware that you were wise and pious. You speak the truth,

and you speak it with an accent that moves me to the heart. This

world is indeed a place of trial."

"We are now," said Florizel, "in the middle of the bridge. Lean

your elbows on the parapet and look over. As the water rushing

below, so the passions and complications of life carry away the

honesty of weak men. Let me tell you a story."

"I receive your Highness's commands," replied the man.

And, imitating the Prince, he leaned against the parapet, and

disposed himself to listen. The city was already sunk in slumber;

had it not been for the infinity of lights and the outline of

buildings on the starry sky, they might have been alone beside some

country river.

"An officer," began Prince Florizel, "a man of courage and conduct,

who had already risen by merit to an eminent rank, and won not only

admiration but respect, visited, in an unfortunate hour for his

peace of mind, the collections of an Indian Prince. Here he beheld

a diamond so extraordinary for size and beauty that from that

instant he had only one desire in life: honour, reputation,

friendship, the love of country, he was ready to sacrifice all for

this lump of sparkling crystal. For three years he served this

semi-barbarian potentate as Jacob served Laban; he falsified

frontiers, he connived at murders, he unjustly condemned and

executed a brother-officer who had the misfortune to displease the

Rajah by some honest freedoms; lastly, at a time of great danger to

his native land, he betrayed a body of his fellow-soldiers, and

suffered them to be defeated and massacred by thousands. In the

end, he had amassed a magnificent fortune, and brought home with

him the coveted diamond.

"Years passed," continued the Prince, "and at length the diamond is

accidentally lost. It falls into the hands of a simple and

laborious youth, a student, a minister of God, just entering on a

career of usefulness and even distinction. Upon him also the spell

is cast; he deserts everything, his holy calling, his studies, and

flees with the gem into a foreign country. The officer has a

brother, an astute, daring, unscrupulous man, who learns the

clergyman's secret. What does he do? Tell his brother, inform the

police? No; upon this man also the Satanic charm has fallen; he

must have the stone for himself. At the risk of murder, he drugs

the young priest and seizes the prey. And now, by an accident

which is not important to my moral, the jewel passes out of his

custody into that of another, who, terrified at what he sees, gives

it into the keeping of a man in high station and above reproach.

"The officer's name is Thomas Vandeleur," continued Florizel. "The

stone is called the Rajah's Diamond. And" - suddenly opening his

hand - "you behold it here before your eyes."

The officer started back with a cry.

"We have spoken of corruption," said the Prince. "To me this

nugget of bright crystal is as loathsome as though it were crawling

with the worms of death; it is as shocking as though it were

compacted out of innocent blood. I see it here in my hand, and I

know it is shining with hell-fire. I have told you but a hundredth

part of its story; what passed in former ages, to what crimes and

treacheries it incited men of yore, the imagination trembles to

conceive; for years and years it has faithfully served the powers

of hell; enough, I say, of blood, enough of disgrace, enough of

broken lives and friendships; all things come to an end, the evil

like the good; pestilence as well as beautiful music; and as for

this diamond, God forgive me if I do wrong, but its empire ends to-

night."

The Prince made a sudden movement with his hand, and the jewel,

describing an arc of light, dived with a splash into the flowing

river.

"Amen," said Florizel with gravity. "I have slain a cockatrice!"

"God pardon me!" cried the detective. "What have you done? I am a

ruined man."

"I think," returned the Prince with a smile, "that many well-to-do

people in this city might envy you your ruin."

"Alas! your Highness!" said the officer, "and you corrupt me after

all?"

"It seems there was no help for it," replied Florizel. "And now

let us go forward to the Prefecture."

Not long after, the marriage of Francis Scrymgeour and Miss

Vandeleur was celebrated in great privacy; and the Prince acted on

that occasion as groomsman. The two Vandeleurs surprised some

rumour of what had happened to the diamond; and their vast diving

operations on the River Seine are the wonder and amusement of the

idle. It is true that through some miscalculation they have chosen

the wrong branch of the river. As for the Prince, that sublime

person, having now served his turn, may go, along with the ARABIAN

AUTHOR, topsy-turvy into space. But if the reader insists on more

specific information, I am happy to say that a recent revolution

hurled him from the throne of Bohemia, in consequence of his

continued absence and edifying neglect of public business; and that

his Highness now keeps a cigar store in Rupert Street, much

frequented by other foreign refugees. I go there from time to time

to smoke and have a chat, and find him as great a creature as in

the days of his prosperity; he has an Olympian air behind the

counter; and although a sedentary life is beginning to tell upon

his waistcoat, he is probably, take him for all in all, the

handsomest tobacconist in London.