“Yes; I’ve handled a few.”

“I have the largest diamond in the known world, I believe.”

Monte smiled.

“Let me see it,” he said.

“I can’t.”

“Then you haven’t got it?”

“Well, it amounts to the same thing; a pal has the stone.”

“Do you own it?”

“We hold equal shares.”

“Sure I couldn’t tell how much the jewel is worth without seeing it; and, by the way, I haven’t seen anything in the newspapers about any one losing such a great diamond. I think, young man, you are slightly off your base.”