"I suppose you haven't got one you could show me?" I said.
He shook his head. "They rarely come into the market. There is only one place in New York where they may be found."
"And that is?"
"Mount's. Mr. Alfred Mount has a hobby for collecting them. Naturally when a blue pearl appears it is generally offered first to him. You'd better go to see him. He knows more about blue pearls than any man in the world."
"One more question?" I said cajolingly, "in my story I have to imagine the existence of a necklace of sixty-seven blue pearls ranging in size from a currant down to a pea, all perfectly matched, perfect in form and lustre. If there was such a thing what would it be worth?"
When I described the necklace I received a mild shock, for the pale eyes of the man who was watching me suddenly contracted like a frightened animal's. The muscles of his large pale face never moved, but I saw the eyes bolt. He smiled stiffly.
"I couldn't say," he said. "Its value would be fabulous."
"But give me some idea," I said, "just for the sake of the story."
He moistened his lips. "Oh, say half a million," he said. "It would not be too much."
I swallowed my astonishment, and thanked him, and made my way out.