himself more than a match for the astute Oriental.
Shaffrass was beguiled with fair words and empty
promises. His demand was neither agreed to nor
rejected, and he himself was gradually led into a style
of living, which was far beyond his means, and obliged
him to run heavily into debt. When his purse was
exhausted and his credit broken, Panin suddenly put
an end to the negotiations, and the Armenian was
officially informed that he could not carry out his
avowed intention of leaving Russia or even the capital
until all his creditors were satisfied. Such was the
law of the land, and no exception could be made in
his favour. He now found himself at the mercy
of the minister. Nevertheless, he determined not to
sacrifice the diamond, which had already cost him so
much blood. He accordingly raised money enough
to meet his liabilities by the sale of some smaller
gems amongst the Armenians of St. Petersburg, paid
his debts, and suddenly withdrew from the capital.
He
was now completely lost sight of; but ten years later the Russian Court
received intimation that he was residing in Astrakhan. Here
negotiations were renewed for the purchase of the diamond, which he was
at last induced to part with, apparently on the original terms. Murray,
speaking of the " Orloff," says that "a Greek merchant, named Gregory
Suffrass offered it for sale in Amsterdam in 1766, from whom Prince
Orloff bought it for Catherine of Russia for £90,000, an annuity of
£4,000, and a patent of nobility, as he himself informed Mr. Magellan."
He then quotes the authority of Dutens for this statement, which, he adds, "Seems to be a genuine account."
