He thereupon showed my partner and myself ten stones, consisting of five rubies and five sapphires, each of which weighed between fifty-five and sixty carats." "And you purchased them ?" "We did, and for a very heavy sum.

I can assure you the vendor was very well aware of their value, as we soon discovered, and he was also a good hand at a bargain.

Would you care to see the stones?
I shall be pleased to show them to you if you would." "I should like to see them immensely." I replied.
Thereupon he crossed the room to a safe in the corner, and, when he had unlocked it, took from it a wash-leather bag.

Presently ten superb gems were lying before me on the table.
"There they are," he said, waving his hands towards them, "and as you can see for yourself, they are worthy of being set in the crown of an emperor.

It is not often that we are enthusiastic in such matters, but in this case we have very good reason to be.