"It is."
"And pretty small, if it has no name."
"No, not so small. But its name was long ago forgotten. There are no
survivors to remember it."
"But you can tell us," said Mr. Bressani, "whether it is North of here,
or East, or West, or South."
"Why--er--really, I couldn't tell you even that. Nobody could."
"Perhaps it's beneath us, or above"; and in the Senior Partner's tone
was a suggestion of irony.
Cyrus ignored the tone and answered pleasantly: "I am not trying to
deceive, or to mislead you in any way, but it really is a journey in
which points of the compass are no guides whatever."
On the faces of the three jewelers came three involuntary frowns.
[Illustration: "A MOST UNUSUAL COUNTRY!"--_Page 206_]
"You are certainly having fun with us, Cyrus," said William.
"No, not at all. But, you see, a compass would be useless where there
is no such thing as North and South."
"No such thing as North and South!"
"No. Nor East and West. The needle would lose its bearings. It wouldn't
know where to point."
"Oh, come now! Is that a joke? Are we to laugh at it?"
Cyrus smiled. "I should not blame you for laughing--but it is not a
joke. I am telling the truth."
"You mean to say, I suppose, that you had such bad weather--electrical
storms, perhaps,--that the needle couldn't work."
"No, there was no weather at all."
"You mean no bad weather?"
"Nor good weather, either."
With some impatience William demanded: "Now just what do you mean,
Cyrus?"
"I mean, that in going and coming, there was no such thing as wind
nor rain, nor sunshine. It was all twilight--a dusk that was almost
darkness. It was a trackless, uncharted voyage. And not a shore to
touch at."
"Then you crossed an ocean? It was all by sea?"
"No. There was no sea--no water anywhere."
This time William made no effort to hide his annoyance. He merely
whistled, and walked away, toward the window.
"I don't blame you, Billy, for being enraged," and Cyrus also stood up.
"But on my honor, I am telling you the truth. And I am willing to tell
you anything except the exact location. Later on you will understand my
reasons for being so secretive."
"Perhaps you can tell us," said Mr. Bressani, "in what surroundings you
found it: whether under ground or above."
"Above. Just lying on the ground."
"My own guess," said William, "from its being already cut, is that some
oriental chap either gave it to you or sold it."
"No, I found it, entirely by accident--among some ruins."