Mr.Latham was nervously shuffling his unopened personal correspondence when he came upon it--a formal white square envelope, directed by that same copperplate hand which had directed the boxes.
He dropped into his chair, and opened the envelope with eager fingers.

Inside was this letter: MY DEAR SIR: One week ago I took the liberty of sending to you, and to each of four other leading jewelers of this city whose names you know, a single large diamond of rare cutting and color.

Please accept this as a gift from me, and be good enough to convey my compliments to the other four gentlemen, and assure them that theirs, too, were gifts.
Believe me, I had no intention of making a mystery of this.

It was necessary definitely to attract your attention, and I could conceive of no more certain way than in this manner.

In return for the value of the jewels I shall ask that you and the four others concerned give me an audience in your office on Thursday afternoon next at three o'clock; that you make known this request to the others; and that three experts whose judgment you will all accept shall meet with us.
I believe you will appreciate the necessity of secrecy in this matter, for the present at least.