cutter, who could say how many centuries ago! It glowed with a green
fire, deep, yet tender, that flashed through its facets and smote the
duller lamplight with sparkles of intense brilliancy. This, then, was
the wondrous gem which for reign after reign was said to have been
regarded as their choicest possession by the great lords of Hyderabad.
Ducie seemed to be examining it most closely; but, in truth, at that
very moment he was debating in his own mind the terrible question of
murder or no murder, and scarcely saw the stone itself at all.

"Ami, you do not seem to admire my Diamond!" said the Russian presently,
with a touch of pathos in his voice.

Ducie pressed the Diamond back into Platzoff's hands. "I admire it so
much," said he, "that I cannot enter into any commonplace terms of
admiration. I will talk to you to-morrow respecting it. At present I
lack fitting words."

The Russian took back the stone, pressed it to his lips, and then went
and replaced it in the forehead of the idol.

"Who is your friend there?" said Ducie, with a desperate attempt to
wrench his thoughts away from that all-absorbing temptation.

"I am not sufficiently learned in Hindu mythology to tell you his name
with certainty," answered Platzoff. "I take him to be no less a
personage than Vishnu. He is seated upon the folds of the snake Jesha,
whose seven heads bend over him to afford him shade. In one hand he
holds a spray of the sacred lotus. He is certainly hideous enough to be
a very great personage. Do you know, my dear Ducie," went on Platzoff,
"I have a very curious theory with regard to that Hindu gentleman,