The Bressani eyebrows went up--high up--and then far down. And beneath the frown the fierce eyes looked eagerly toward the speaker. "Has it a remarkable history, Mr. Alton?" Cyrus smiled, slowly and somewhat sadly, and gently shook his head. "I wish I knew. I would almost give the diamond's price to know its story--much as I need the money." "Do you know nothing of its history?" "Nothing. I only know that if we could see what that stone has seen we should enter a new field of knowledge. It would throw light upon a world of unknown things, earlier than human history." In silence the jewelers regarded the speaker, as if waiting for some explanation of his words. Mr. Bressani's eyebrows had shot up to the highest attitude yet attained. In a low voice, but in a tone that showed the liveliest curiosity, he asked, "Just what do you mean, Mr. Alton?" "I mean the story of this diamond's country would be a story so overwhelming, so far beyond us, so complete and final in its stupendous tragedy that our own human drama would seem a trifling comedy." These words were spoken in a calm but earnest manner, and they impressed the listeners. A silence followed. Then Mr. Bressani asked: "What _is_ this diamond's country?" Cyrus hesitated. He knew that if he told the truth it would appear incredible to his hearers--like a fairy tale for children: that he would be regarded either as a fool, to be pitied, or as a willful liar. While he hesitated the Senior Partner came to his rescue. "Mr. Alton has already informed us that he has reasons for not telling where he found it." Mr. Bressani's enthusiasm, however,--and his curiosity--were far too strong for accepting so easy a defeat. "But what part of the world? He can tell us that." "As a matter of fact," said Cyrus, "I don't know, myself, the name of that particular country." Again the bushy Bressani eyebrows sailed aloft, then dropped and beetled over the fierce black eyes. "You don't know in what country you were when you found it--or bought it?" "I am not sure that it has a name." "A most unusual country!" "Yes, it certainly is;--most unusual." Nephew William laughed. "And it must be a long way off, Cyrus." "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.