"Ah! if I were a rogue," replied Tête d'Or, "I should part with my paste ring to you, to prove that you must not always be guided by your own judgment."
"Stay," said Béroli, "will you lend me your ring until to-morrow. To make quite sure, I will just show it to a jeweller of my acquaintance."
Andréas acceded to his request with a show of indifference, and they separated.
Béroli went off at once to his friend, to show him the jewel, and ask him the value of it.
The jeweller, after examining it for some time attentively, confirmed Béroli's opinion.
"This stone is of a most beautiful water," said he, "and I should consider it cheap if I got it for twelve thousand francs (480l.)."
The following day, Béroli advanced to Andréas with an air of triumph.
"My dear sir," said he, "I can now state with positive certainty, that your family has been in error for the last hundred years about the value of this ring. What you call paste, is a real diamond. I will give you six thousand francs for it."
To this offer Andréas made no reply.
They sat down to play, but during the game, the indefatigable Béroli incessantly returned to the charge, offering each time a higher price for the ring, to tempt his adversary, and finally made him an offer of nine thousand francs. To all of which Andréas remained silent, contenting himself by shaking his head each time in token of negative.