A few moments later, the receipt in his pocket, Cyrus left the private
office, escorted by William. At the street door, as the young jeweler,
at parting, shook hands with his friend, he said: "And, by the way, old
man, when you can divulge the awful secret of where you found it don't
waste a second in telling us."
"If there is a humorous side to this morning's interview, Billy, it is
in the name of that very place."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I mentioned the name, and more than once."
"Stuff!"
"On my honor."
"What was it?"
"Oh, that's too easy! Good-by."
And he left William standing in the doorway,--still guessing.
Alone together, the unparalleled, incredible wonder on the desk before
them, the Senior Partner and Mr. Bressani remained silent for a time,
as if recovering from a dream. For the twentieth time that morning, Mr.
Bressani murmured: "It seems impossible!" Then, after another silence:
"But where did he get it? Has he been to the very center of the earth?"
"Or," said the Senior Partner, with a shrug, "to the mountains of the
moon."
[Illustration]