"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."