Whistling softly, the Duke opened the case, took out the diadem, and examined it carefully, admiring its admirable workmanship.

He put it back in the case, turned to the millionaire, and said thoughtfully: "I can never make up my mind, in the case of one of these old diadems, whether one ought not to take out the stones and have them re-cut.

Look at this emerald now.

It's a very fine stone, but this old-fashioned cutting does not really do it justice." "Oh, no, no: you should never interfere with an antique, historic piece of jewellery.

Any alteration decreases its value--its value as an historic relic," cried the millionaire, in a shocked tone.
"I know that," said the Duke, "but the question for me is, whether one ought not to sacrifice some of its value to increasing its beauty." "You do have such mad ideas," said the millionaire, in a tone of peevish exasperation.
"Ah, well, it's a nice question," said the Duke.
He snapped the case briskly, put it back on the shelf, locked the safe, and handed the key to the millionaire.