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THE FRENCH BLUE.
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loss
and its yet stranger recovery, the French Blue would scarcely deserve a
place among these " Stories about Famous Precious Stones." Jean
Baptiste Tavernier is a name familiar to every one who has studied the
history of precious stones. He was the son of an Antwerp geographer
settled in Paris, and early in life he evinced an ardent love of
travel. Born in 1605, he had at the age of twenty-two traveled over
most of Europe, and was acquainted with most European languages. In his
own account of his travels he speaks entertainingly of the various
reasons which at different times prompted him to journey. Having
entered the service of the Duke of Mantua as captain of a company of
soldiers, he attended that prince during ths siege of Mantua. He was
struck by two bullets which, though inflicting a troublesome wound,
failed to kill him — thanks to the excellent temper of his cuirass ;
whereupon he observes that "he found a longer stay at Mantua did not
agree with his desire to travel." He made his
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