Cyrus hesitated. He knew that if he told the truth it would appear incredible to his hearers—like a fairy tale for children: that he would be regarded either as a fool, to be pitied, or as a willful liar. While he hesitated the Senior Partner came to his rescue.
"Mr. Alton has already informed us that he has reasons for not telling where he found it."
Mr. Bressani's enthusiasm, however,—and his curiosity—were far too strong for accepting so easy a defeat. "But what part of the world? He can tell us that."
"As a matter of fact," said Cyrus, "I don't know, myself, the name of that particular country."
Again the bushy Bressani eyebrows sailed aloft, then dropped and beetled over the fierce black eyes. "You don't know in what country you were when you found it—or bought it?"
"I am not sure that it has a name."
"A most unusual country!"
"Yes, it certainly is;—most unusual."
Nephew William laughed. "And it must be a long way off, Cyrus."
"It is."