and to have suffered nothing. The manner of each aptly fitted with

his part in the discourse. The Dictator indulged in brutalities

alike of speech and gesture; his hand opened and shut and fell

roughly on the table; and his voice was loud and heavy. The

Prince, on the other hand, seemed the very type of urbane docility

and quiet; the least movement, the least inflection, had with him a

weightier significance than all the shouts and pantomime of his

companion; and if ever, as must frequently have been the case, he

described some experience personal to himself, it was so aptly

dissimulated as to pass unnoticed with the rest.

At length the talk wandered on to the late robberies and the

Rajah's Diamond.

"That diamond would be better in the sea," observed Prince

Florizel.

"As a Vandeleur," replied the Dictator, "your Highness may imagine

my dissent."

"I speak on grounds of public policy," pursued the Prince. "Jewels

so valuable should be reserved for the collection of a Prince or

the treasury of a great nation. To hand them about among the

common sort of men is to set a price on Virtue's head; and if the

Rajah of Kashgar - a Prince, I understand, of great enlightenment -

desired vengeance upon the men of Europe, he could hardly have gone

more efficaciously about his purpose than by sending us this apple

of discord. There is no honesty too robust for such a trial. I

myself, who have many duties and many privileges of my own - I

myself, Mr. Vandeleur, could scarce handle the intoxicating crystal

and be safe. As for you, who are a diamond hunter by taste and

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