Загублений світ
A Procession! A Procession!
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
