Anxiously the young people hung on Mr. Nelson's answer.
He laid aside the packages he had brought from Boston, and turned for a moment to greet his wife, who had come into the room. She had been told of the find as soon as it was discovered, and had been properly astonished.
"It takes the young folks to do things nowadays," he said, with a smile.
"Doesn't it?" she responded.
"But are they diamonds? That's what we want to know!" chanted Betty, her arms around her father's shoulders.
Mr. Nelson tested the stones much as Allen had done, but he went farther. From his pocket he produced a small but powerful magnifying glass. It was one he used, sometimes, in looking at samples of carpet at his office. He put one of the larger stones under the glass.
The young people hardly breathed while the test was going on. But the result was not announced at once, for Mr. Nelson took several of the sparkling stones, and subjected them to the scrutiny under the microscope.
"Well," he announced finally, "I should say they are diamonds, and pretty fine diamonds, too!"
The girls gave little squeals of delight.
"You were right, old man," spoke Henry to Allen, with a nod.