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,
speaking 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.