In this case we were shown a sketch of the brooch exactly as it appeared
after the four rubies had been stolen from it. The reader was asked to
show the positions from which the stones "may have been taken;" for it
is not possible to show precisely how the gems were originally placed,
because there are many such ways. But an important point was the
statement by Lady Littlewood's brother: "I know the brooch well. It
originally contained forty-five stones, and there are now only
forty-one. Somebody has stolen four rubies, and then reset as small a
number as possible in such a way that there shall always be eight stones
in any of the directions you have mentioned."
[Illustration]
The diagram shows the arrangement before the robbery. It will be seen
that it was only necessary to reset one ruby--the one in the centre. Any
solution involving the resetting of more than one stone is not in
accordance with the brother's statement, and must therefore be wrong.
The original arrangement was, of course, a little unsymmetrical, and for
this reason the brooch was described as "rather eccentric."