This outburst fairly electrified the court. Philip could not have adopted a more domineering tone were he the Governor of the Bank of England charged with passing a counterfeit half-crown. The magistrate was as surprised as any.
"I do not wish to argue with you," he said, quietly; "nor do I expect you to commit yourself in any way. But you must surely see that for a poverty-stricken boy to be found in possession of gems of great marketable value is a circumstance that demands inquiry, however honest and—er—well bred you may be."
"The only witness against me has said that the diamonds could not have been stolen," cried Philip, now thoroughly aroused, and ready for any war of wits.
"Quite true. The inference is that you have discovered a meteoric deposit of diamonds."
"I have. Some—not all—are before you."
A tremor shook the court. Isaacstein swallowed something, and his head sank more deeply below his shoulders.
"Then I take it that you will not inform me of the locality of this deposit?"
"Yes."
"And you think that by disclosing your name and address you will reveal that locality?"
Philip grew red.