"For what they are?"
"Precisely."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You know what I mean."
"I do?" snarled Venner, inquiringly, with his frowning eyes shrinking from Nick's steadfast gaze.
"Certainly you do," declared Nick. "These diamonds are imitations, not natural stones. They are the most perfect and marvelous artificial diamonds ever made.
"Artificial!" cried Venner, now drawing back. "You are mad, sir! Why, man, you are away off the track!"
"Oh, no, I'm not."
"You are!"
"Not off the track at all, but very squarely on it," Nick now retorted, speaking in his own sternly resonant tones. "Hark you, Venner, I am the one to ask the meaning of this, not you!"