As soon as you get out of the room you glance at it, and then put the piece of paper into your mouth, chew it up and swallow it.

I tell you I dare not even whisper it; but whatever you do, take no steps in the matter until your son comes of age." "There can surely be no danger in another twelve years, George; they will have given up the search long before that." "Not they," the Colonel said emphatically.

"If they die others will take their places: it is a sacred business with them.

My advice to you is, either sell them directly you get them into your hands, or go straight to Amsterdam and sell them there to one of the diamond cutters, who will turn them out so that they will be altered beyond all recognition.

Don't sell more than two stones at most to any one man; then they will never come out as a bracelet again, and the hunt will be over." "I would almost rather leave them alone altogether, George." "Well, they are worth 50,000 pounds if they are worth a penny, and a great deal more I should say; but you cannot leave them alone without leaving everything alone, for all my gems are with them, and 52,000 pounds in gold.