original is in the Russian sceptre. This is a replica--color, weight
and cutting being identical--one hundred and ninety-three carats,
nearly as large as a pigeon's egg."

Again Mr. Wynne glanced along the table. Suddenly the frank
amazement had vanished from the faces of these men, and he found
only the tense interest of an audience watching a clever juggler.
For a time Mr. Schultze studied the Orloff duplicate, then passed it
along to the experts.

"Der grand Cullinan diamond weighs only two or d'ree pounds," he
questioned in a tone of deep resignation. "Maybe you haf _him_ in
der backage, alretty?"

"Not yet," replied Mr. Wynne, "but I may possibly get that on my next
trip out. Who knows?"

There was a long, tense silence. Mechanically Mr. Czenki placed the
three spheres and the replicas in an orderly little row on the table
in front of him and the uncut stones beside them--six, seven, eight
million dollars' worth of diamonds.

"Gentlemen, are you convinced?" demanded Mr. Wynne suddenly. "Is
there one lingering doubt in any mind here as to the tremendous find
which makes the production of all those possible?"

"Id iss der miracle, Mr. Vynne," admitted the German gravely, after
a little pause. "Dere iss someding before us as nefer vas in der
vorld. I am gonvinced!"