aking as an expert, that it is the most perfect diamond existing
in the world to-day."

Mr. Latham had been staring at him mutely, and he still sat silent
for an instant after Mr. Czenki had finished.

"And its value?" he asked at last.

"Its value!" Mr. Czenki repeated musingly. "You know, Mr. Latham,"
he went on suddenly, "there are a hundred experts, commissioned by
royalty, scouring the diamond markets of the world for such stones
as this. So, if you are looking for a sale and a price, by all means
offer it abroad first." He lifted the sparkling, iridescent jewel
from the box again, and gazed at it reflectively. "There is not one
stone belonging to the British crown, for instance, which would in
any way compare with this."

"Not even the Koh-i-noor?" Mr. Latham demanded, surprised.

Mr. Czenki shook his head.

"Not even the Koh-i-noor. It is larger, that's all--a fraction more
than one hundred and six carats, but it has neither the coloring nor
the cutting of this." There was a pause. "Would it be impertinent
if I ask who owns this?"

"I don't know," replied Mr. Latham slowly. "I don't know; but it
isn't ours. Perhaps later I'll be able to--"

"I beg your pardon," the expert interrupted courteously, and there
was a slight expression of surprise on his thin scarred face. "Is
that all?"

Mr. Latham nodded absently and Mr. Czenki left the room.

CHAPTER II

TWEEDLEDUM AND TWEEDLEDEE

A little while later, when Mr. Latham started out to luncheon, he
thrust the white glazed box into an inside pocket. It had occurred
to him that Schultze--Gustave Schultze, the greatest importer of
precious stones in America--was usually at the club where he had
luncheon, and--

He found Mr. Schultze, a huge blond German, sitting at a table in an
alcove, alone, gazing out upon Fifth Avenue in deep abstraction, with
perplexed wrinkles about his blue eyes. The German glanced around at
Latham quickly as he proceeded to draw out a chair on the opposite
side of the table.

"Sid down, Laadham, sid down," he invited explosively. "I haf yust
send der vaiter to der delephone to ask--"

There was a restrained note of excitement in the German's voice, but
at the moment it was utterly lost upon Mr. Latham.

"Schultze, you've probably imported more diamonds in the last ten
years than any other half-dozen men in the United States," he
interrupted. "I have something here I want you to see. Perhaps,
at some time,