The Holly chieftain., 1914-02-27

He pulled green case from an In
side pocket, fiipped 1t open, and there
the thing was as big as walnut. The
lights were on ii being dull weather,
and the stone blInked and sparkled
like the sun on dancing water.
MY word. Julius.' | said. But
that's risky bit of stuff to carry
about with you
It's going to the bank this after
noon, he answered. so If you want
to examine the pretty pebble, gentle
men, this Is your last chance"
And with that he took 1t from its
of his first baby, and sent it round the
table.
Il was sitting on Julius left Be
tween US was a fat old boy, who was
stranger to me. He took a long stare
at the stone, whistling softly between
his teeth, before he passed it on 1t
went from hand to hand. never out of
sight, so far as | could notice, until It
came to Sir Andrew Carlton, who fan
cies himself an expert on gems. They
say that when Lady Carlton is In the
stalls, the play is finished to the wo-
men sitting behind her, for they can't
Keep their eyes off her pearls. Sir
Andrew pulled out magnifying glass,
and began examining the diamond.
-" l congratulate you, Taubery,' he
said, after about a minute. You have
acquired historical stone.'
"Old Julius ieant back, with a smile
halfway round his head. but he didn't
say word.
This stone said Sir Andrew, In
the heavy. pompous way that he has,
tapping 1t with his magnifying glass
to attract attention, this stone is the
celebrated Hyderapore diamond, to
which first historical reference is
made in the year 1854. 1t was cap.
tured by the Rajah of Hyderapore
from ruling chief in the Deccan after
a battle, in which four thousand men
lost their lives. In 1850 it was stolen
from the rajahs palace by a Spaniard.
who escaped 20 Bombay, where he was
robbed and murdered The stone dis
appeared for about sixty years.
1t subsequently came into the
possession Of one OF the East India
company's agents. who was stabbed to
death in bis bungalow near Calcutta
about 1860 The diamond, which is
held to have inspired the attack, was
saved from the robbers by the appear
ance OF his guests and servants. The
widow brought it to Europe and sold
1t TO the Due d'Alembert, who lost his
diamond and incidentally his life in
the French revolution. 1t turned up
again at the court of Napoleon ILL.,,
being then in the possession of Henri
Marvin the well-known financier. I'm
til today l thought it was still in his
family.
1t Is one of the very few large dia-
monds that Is absolutely without a
flaw, and It's value in the open market
today would be approaching thirty
thousand pounds. Any one who takes
an interest In historical stones might
be tempted to give even higher
price; for there has been enough blood
split over 1t. gentlemen, to I'LL the
bath of Its fortunate possessor'
He laid down the diamond on the
table and looked at his host with a
malicious grin. But all connoisseurs
are alike; they are as covetous of
each others pet treasures as so many
cats.
"All the time that Sir Andrew had
been speaking. the fat fellow next to
me had been snorting and swelling
until, pom my soul ! thought he was
In for stroke of apopleSy. | am tho
best-tempered Of men, bJt have nv
limits. and the old gran.pus was ono
OF them.
Are you In pain, sir?' asked him,
Yes, | am, sir he said, In such a
high, squeaky voice that all the table
could hear him. I object to listening
to the definitions of so-called experts,
who cannot tell diamond from a
glass marble. Experts? Humbugs.
that's what call them,'
Do you refer TO me, Professor En-
dicott" began Sir Andrew, leaning
forward. with a very red face.
"Most certainly | do
Then | must ask you for an ey.
planation or an immediate apology
"A man who can make so ludicrous
| an error deserves neither the one nor
the other cried the professor, In great
excitement. That stone has been in
the possession Of the Princes of paya-
| loft for three hundred years. Prince
| Peter. the present head of the family
| kindly allowed me to examine 1t when
| | was in Moscow in 1894. was not
aware that he had sold 1t. trust,
J Mr.. Taubery, that you obtained It from
a respectable source; If not. | should