argued complacently. "You are a diamond dealer, Laadham, bud you
don'd know much aboud dem from whey dey come at. Iss Czenki here?
Send for him. He knows more aboud diamonds as any man vat ever
lived."

Mr. Latham sent an office boy for Czenki, who a few minutes later
appeared with an inquiry in his beady black eyes and a nod of
recognition for Mr. Schultze.

"Sid down, Mr. Czenki," the German invited. "Sid down und draw a
long breath, und den dell Mr. Laadham here someding aboud diamonds."

"What is it, please?" Mr. Czenki asked of Mr. Latham.

"Mr. Czenki, have you any very definite idea as to where those
diamonds came from?" asked Mr. Latham.

"No," was the unhesitating response.

"Is it possible that they might have been found in the--in the United
States?" Mr. Latham went on.

"Certainly. They might have been found anywhere."

"As a matter of fact, were any diamonds _ever_ found in the United
States?"

"Yes, frequently. One very large diamond was found in 1855 at
Manchester, across the James River from Richmond, Virginia. It
weighed twenty-four carats when cut, and is the largest, I believe,