The other looked up. “What's the idea? New notion for decoration? Or”?--a bit testily--“is this a joke?” He was a serious man; his black eyes and the nose spoke his character. The jeweller laughed gently. “Listen, Ed--” Then he went into explanation; when he was through the chemist was twitching with excitement. “Get me a ladder. Here, let me get on the table; perhaps I can reach it. Sounds impossible, but if it's so, it's so; it must have an explanation.” Without ado and in spite of the protests of his brother he stepped upon the polished surface of the table. He was a tall man; he could just barely reach it with the tip of his finger. He could move it; but each time it clung as to a magnet. After a minute of effort he gave it up. When he looked down he was a different man; his black eyes glowed with wonder. “Can't make it,” he said. “Get a step-ladder. Strange!” With the ladder it was easy. He plucked it off the ceiling. We pressed about the table. The chemist turned it about with his fingers. “I wonder,” he was saying. “It's a gem. Apparently. You say it has no gravity. It can't be. Whoop!” He let it slip out of his fingers. Again it popped on its way to the ceiling. He caught it with a deft movement of his hand. “The devil! Did you ever see! And a solid! Who owns this?” That brought it back to me. I explained what I could of the manner of my possession. “I see. Very interesting. Something I've never seen--and--frankly--something strictly against what I've been taught. Nevertheless, it's not impossible. We are witnesses at least. Would you care if I take this over to the laboratory?” It was a new complication. If it were not a jewel there was a chance of its being damaged. I was as anxious as he; but I had been warned as to its possession. “I shan't harm it. I'll see to that. I have suspicions and I'd like to verify them. A chemist doesn't blunder across such a thing every day. I am a chemist.” His eyes glistened. “Your suspicions?” I asked. “A new element.” This gem. A new element. Perhaps that would explain the Blind Spot. It was not exactly of earth. Everything had confirmed it. “You--A new element? How do you account for it? It defies your laws. Most of your elements are evolved through tedious process. This is picked up by chance.” “That is so. But there are still a thousand ways. A meteor, perhaps; a bit of cosmic dust--there are many shattered comets. Our chemistry is earthly. There are undoubtedly new elements that we don't know of. Perhaps in enormous proportion.” I let him have it. It was the only night I had been away from the ring. I may say that it is the only time I have been free from its isolation.