"But, are you sure, Bressani," said the Senior Partner, "absolutely sure that it is a diamond?"
Mr. Bressani smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and with a gesture of both hands, palms out, replied, slowly:
"I am not a rich man, but whatever property I possess, and whatever I can borrow up to a million dollars I would gladly give to Mr. Alton if I might own this stone."
Cyrus Alton's eyes opened wider. "A million dollars?"
"Easily. You see, it will cut to four or five stones of extraordinary size, and—unless I am much mistaken—of perfect purity. Also, the color—this lovely, delicate, apple-green tint is almost unknown. The only diamond of this color in the world, of any importance, is the famous Dresden Green, one of the crown jewels of Saxony."
"Is this much larger," inquired Cyrus, "than that Dresden diamond?"
"Many times larger."
"And much larger than any of the famous diamonds?"
"Yes, indeed! Much, much, very much larger. No comparison, in fact. Why, Mr. Alton, if this were cut to one stone, half its present size—as a rough guess—it would be over three thousand carats."
Nephew William gasped. "Three thousand carats! Why, there's nothing like it! It would be the most famous stone in the world!"