The news release was astounding to some, like us at The Palace: "During an investigation of a bank robbery the Canadian police discovered the Kouchert Diamond Pearl of Star of Empress Elisabeth of Austria in a house in Winnipeg. The star had been stolen from an exhibition at Schönbrunn Castle in Vienna, Austria, in June 1998. Eight people have been arrested."

The tragic empress, once regarded as the most astoundingly beautiful woman in Europe, had never had a happy life. Plagued by inferences to her mad cousin, Ludwig, she married Emperor Franz Josef of Austria and became somewhat of a recluse. She hated court life, surrounded herself with "artists" on her island, and was dealt the final blow of an unhappy life when her only son, Rudolf, committed suicide with Baroness Mary Vetsera, a 17 year old social climber (who had reached the top).

I once saw an amazing, black, beaded, mourning gown at Diana Vreeland's costume exhibit at the Met; because of the fantastic cost of such a piece, but more for the fact that it had a 18 inch waist (Elizabeth only "ate" strained meat juice), it was certainly hers. "Sisi", as she was known, wandered Europe after the death of her son under the name of The Countess Hohenlohe with only one lady in waiting. Queen Victoria had made her own yacht, "The Osbourne" at her disposal. She was walking along Lake Geneva to board a vessel when an Italian anarchist stabbed her; hustled aboard with what only appeared to be a slight wound, she bled to death when her corset was undone and the wound was fatal. One has to wonder what eight people were doing with her gem. Dancing, perhaps, around it?

Poor Sisi; she was never accorded happiness.