I turned to Pugh. I "fixed" him with my glance.
"I want to sell you a diamond. Here it is. What will you give me for it?"
Taking the crystal from my waistcoat pocket I handed it to the man on the other side of the counter. Directly, he got it between his fingers, and saw that it was that he had got, I noticed a sudden gleam come into his eyes.
"This is—this is rather a fine stone."
Pugh nudged my arm.
"I told you so." I paid no attention to Pugh. "What will you give me for it?"
"Do you mean, what will I give you for it cash down upon the nail?"
"Just so—what will you give me for it cash down upon the nail?"
The man turned the crystal over and over in his fingers.
"Well, that's rather a large order. We don't often get a chance of buying such a stone as this across the counter. What do you say to—well—to ten thousand pounds?"