Затерянный мир

           Butit’sfacts,nothopes,withusnow.Youmayrememberthatdaywefoundthepterodactylrookeryintheswamp—what?Well,somethin’inthelieofthelandtookmynotice.Perhapsithasescapedyou,soIwilltellyou.Itwasavolcanicventfullofblueclay."TheProfessorsnodded.

           "Well,now,inthewholeworldI’veonlyhadtodowithoneplacethatwasavolcanicventofblueclay.ThatwasthegreatDeBeersDiamondMineofKimberley—what?SoyouseeIgotdiamondsintomyhead.Iriggedupacontraptiontoholdoffthosestinkingbeasts,andIspentahappydaytherewithaspud.ThisiswhatIgot."

           Heopenedhiscigar-box,andtiltingitoverhepouredabouttwentyorthirtyroughstones,varyingfromthesizeofbeanstothatofchestnuts,onthetable.

           "PerhapsyouthinkIshouldhavetoldyouthen.Well,soIshould,onlyIknowtherearealotoftrapsfortheunwary,andthatstonesmaybeofanysizeandyetoflittlevaluewherecolorandconsistencyarecleanoff.Therefore,Ibroughtthemback,andonthefirstdayathomeItookoneroundtoSpink’s,andaskedhimtohaveitroughlycutandvalued."

           Hetookapill-boxfromhispocket,andspilledoutofitabeautifulglitteringdiamond,oneofthefineststonesthatIhaveeverseen.

           "There’stheresult,"saidhe."Hepricesthelotataminimumoftwohundredthousandpounds.Ofcourseitisfairsharesbetweenus.Iwon’thearofanythin’else