. Latham arose suddenly and strode over to Mr. Czenki, who was
twisting the jewel in his fingers, singling out, dissecting, studying
the colorful flashes, measuring the facets with practised eyes,
weighing it on his finger-tips, seeking a possible flaw.

"The cutting is very fine," the expert went on. "Of course I would
have to use instruments to tell me if it is mathematically correct;
and the weight, I imagine, is--is about six carats, perhaps a
fraction more."

"What's it worth?" asked Mr. Latham. "Approximately, I mean?"

"We know the color is perfect," explained Mr. Czenki precisely. "If,
in addition, the cutting is perfect, and the depth is right, and the
weight is six carats or a fraction more, it's worth--in other words,
if that is the most perfect specimen in existence, as it seems to be,
it's worth whatever you might choose to demand for it--twenty,
twenty-five, thirty thousand dollars. With this color, and assuming
it to be six carats, even if _badly_ cut, it would be worth ten or
twelve thousand."

Mr. Latham mopped his brow. And this had come by mail, unregistered!

"It would not be possible to say where--where such a stone came
from--what country?" Mr. Latham inquired curiously. "What's your
opinion?"

The expert shook his head. "If I had to guess I should say Brazil,
of course," he replied; "but that would be merely because the most
perfect blue-white diamonds come from Brazil. They are found all
over the world--in Africa, Russia, India, China, even in the United
States. The simple fact that this color is perfect makes conjecture
useless."

Mr. Latham lapsed into silence, and for a time paced back and forth
across his office; Mr. Czenki stood waiting.

"Please get the exact weight," Mr. Latham requested abruptly. "Also
test the cutting. It came into my possession in rather an--an
unusual manner, and I'm curious."

The expert went out. An hour later he returned and placed the white,
glazed box on the desk before Mr. Latham.

"The weight is six and three-sixteenths carats," he stated. "The
depth is absolutely perfect according to the diameter of the girdle.
The _bezel_ facets are mathematically correct to the minutest
fraction--thirty-three, including the table. The facets on the
_collet_ side are equally exact--twenty-five, including the _collet_,
or fifty-eight facets in all. As I said, the color is flawless. In
other words," he continued without hesitation, "I should say,
spe