“No one in Japan could do it to-day,” spoke up another of the Japanese officers, Toruma by name. “That medallion comes from the most brilliant period of Satsuma art.”
In that face the paler flesh tints had been laid, with wonderful minuteness of detail, from flawless mother of pearl. The hair, which stood out in life-like accuracy, had been worked in some highly polished blue-black stone. The teeth, as they showed in the parted lips of that tiny miniature, were real seed pearls, worked in the exact shapes of the teeth represented.
The most striking feature of all was the beautiful red lips of the tiny mouth. This red had been laid in fine rubies, not showing separately, but blended delightfully.
For fully two minutes Darrin gazed at the miniature face, fascinated with the beauty of the thing. Dan, standing by, admired it also.
“Now, try the effect of this magnifying glass on the face,” suggested Carter.
“It would be almost wicked to hold a magnifying glass over such a treasure,” protested Ensign Dave, recoiling slightly, as though from a profanation of an art treasure.
“Try the glass; don’t be afraid,” said Carter.
So Dave took the glass, focusing it over the wonderful medallion. A cry of wonder escaped the young ensign’s lips.
“Can you find the slightest appearance of roughness under the glass?” asked the American diplomat.
“I cannot,” Dave confessed.