Der longer I lif der more I don'd know." The two men completed a scant luncheon in silence.
"Obviously," remarked Mr.Latham as he laid his napkin aside, "the diamonds were sent to us by the same person; obviously they were sent to us with a purpose; obviously we will, in time, hear from the person who sent them; obviously they were intended to be perfectly matched; so let's see if they are.

Come to my office and let Czenki examine the one you have." He hesitated an instant.

"Suppose you let me take it.

We'll try a little experiment." He carefully placed the jewel which the German handed to him, in an outside pocket, and together they went to his office.

Mr.Czenki appeared, in answer to a summons, and Mr.Latham gave him the German's box.
"That's the diamond you examined for me this morning, isn't it ?" he inquired.
Mr.Czenki turned it out into his hand and scrutinized it perfunctorily.
"Yes," he replied after a moment.
"Are you quite certain ?" Mr.Latham insisted.
Something in the tone caused Mr.Czenki to raise his beady black eyes questioningly for an instant, after which he walked over to a window and adjusted his magnifying glass again.