"Let's weigh it," said William. The expert placed it on the little scales that stood on the top of the Senior Partner's desk. The three men waited in silence for the verdict. After a close scrutiny of the scales Mr. Bressani straightened up, turned toward the three pairs of eyes--all fixed intently on his own--and exclaimed: "Really--it is hard to believe!" "How much?" came, in the same breath, from the Senior Partner and his nephew. "Seventy-one hundred carats!" The nephew laughed nervously. "Why--there never was such a diamond!" The Senior Partner frowned. "Impossible!" Mr. Bressani's hand trembled slightly, as he lifted the stone from the scales and again held it to the light. "Yes--yes--it does seem impossible!" "But nobody ever saw such a diamond!" was again announced by William. "Never!" from Mr. Bressani. "How much did the Cullinan weigh?" William asked. "About three thousand and thirty carats in the rough--about a pound and three-quarters. It was cut into three large stones and several smaller ones. Two of these stones are the largest brilliants in existence." "But, are you sure, Bressani," said the Senior Partner, "absolutely sure that it _is_ a diamond?" Mr. Bressani smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and with a gesture of both hands, palms out, replied, slowly: "I am not a rich man, but whatever property I possess, and whatever I can borrow up to a million dollars I would gladly give to Mr. Alton if I might own this stone." Cyrus Alton's eyes opened wider. "A million dollars?" "Easily. You see, it will cut to four or five stones of extraordinary size, and--unless I am much mistaken--of perfect purity. Also, the color--this lovely, delicate, apple-green tint is almost unknown. The only diamond of this color in the world, of any importance, is the famous Dresden Green, one of the crown jewels of Saxony." "Is this much larger," inquired Cyrus, "than that Dresden diamond?" "Many times larger." "And much larger than any of the famous diamonds?" "Yes, indeed! Much, much, very much larger. No comparison, in fact. Why, Mr. Alton, if this were cut to one stone, half its present size--as a rough guess--it would be over three thousand carats." Nephew William gasped. "Three thousand carats! Why, there's nothing like it! It would be the most famous stone in the world!" "No doubt about that," said Mr. Bressani. "How much is the Great Mogul?" asked William. "Less than two hundred carats." "And the Koh-i-noor?" "One hundred and eight." "And the Star of the South?" "About a hundred and twenty-seven carats." "Did you ever see the Hope diamond?" "Yes; forty-five carats. Almost circular in shape; sold for eighteen thousand pounds. But it is believed--at least there is a story--that it brings bad luck to its owners." "It is blue, isn't it?"