"One of the best," Pylotte modestly admitted, with a faint smile. "I am an expert judge of diamonds, and so it happened that I discovered the swindle of which I am a victim."
"Then you bought a diamond of the man who said his name was John David, did you?"
"I bought two, sir," nodded Pylotte. "They appeared like natural and very perfect stones when I first examined them, but after subjecting them to more careful tests, I found them to be the most extraordinary imitations I ever beheld."
"Artificial diamonds, were they?"
"Yes, artificial. But only the best of experts, and after the most rigid tests, could discover the fraud. I never saw such imitations. The stones are really almost as good as natural ones."
"Have you them with you?"
"Yes."
"You feel quite confident that they were manufactured, do you?"
"Oh, I am positive of it," cried Pylotte, with emphasis. "That is why I was secretly following the swindler."
"You wanted to discover his house, and learn how he made such perfect imitations, eh? Was that your motive, instead of having him arrested at the theater?"