"If you don't mind, sir, I would rather not answer that question just at present."
"Certainly. Of course not! Excuse my asking."
"I am the one to apologize, sir. It is a most natural question, and I will answer it later."
"Of course, Mr. Alton, you understand my asking that question. The answer might give us light that would solve the riddle. If, for instance, you found it among broken fragments in a glass factory, we might be prejudiced regarding its ancestry."
"No. It was many miles from any factory."
"On the other hand, if unearthed in a diamond mine, or discovered on the forehead of a Hindoo god it's claim to distinction would be more clearly defined."
"Yes, I suppose so. But I thought an expert might judge the value of a stone without knowing its history."
"Certainly, certainly. But sometimes a ray of light on a doubtful subject facilitates a decision. If this majestic door knob, fragment of a balustrade, pendant to a chandelier, or whatever its original purpose—if this object is a diamond, Mr. Alton, it means a fortune to its owner. And I sincerely wish it were a diamond."
"But you know it isn't?"
"I don't say that; but no lapidary would ever cut a diamond as this is cut." Then, with a friendly smile as he handed it back to its owner, "If William here, or anybody else should offer you real money for it——"