194 THE SANCI.
in 1865 they were able to sell it for one hundred thousand dollars.
While
in the hands of Prince Demidoff the Sanci is reported to have had some
strange adventures of which the following is an example :
It
was in the shawl of the Princess one day, when, finding it hot, she
handed the shawl to a friend to carry for her. The friend was a very
absent-minded scientific personage; he put the Sanci pin into his
waistcoat pocket for safety and forgot all about it when returning the
shawl to the Princess. She forgot the pin also (a likely incident
this). Next day the Sanci was missing. Consternation! Scientific
friend hurriedly interviewed. He remembered the incident. Where was the
waistcoat ? Gone to the wash (of course). O, horror! Washerwoman
frantically sought. Where was the waistcoat ? — in the tub ? Was there
anything found in the pocket? Yes; a glass pin. Where was it? Had given
it to her little boy to play with (of course). Where was the boy ?
Playing in the
