"That would be hard to tell," said Oliver, smiling. "But perhaps not more than half a million livres. None of the stones are very large or fine."
"OLIVER SPREAD OUT THE GEMS UPON THE TABLE WITH HIS HAND."
"Not large? Not fine?" cried the marquis, and he picked out a diamond from among the rest. "What, then, do you call this?"
"It is off color," said Oliver.
"It is a treasure that a king might covet!" cried the marquis, enthusiastically.
Oliver laughed. "You admire it?" said he. "Then do me the favor to accept it."
The marquis rose to his feet. "Oh," he cried, "this is too much! I do not dare."