Part 11 (2/2)
”Flawless stones at bargain prices” - the lack of flaws in a dia its value As for bargain prices there ain't no such animal Prices areexpert and canny dealers, and there are no ”sales” or special prices for anyone ”But where should a person buy a diamond?” Ruby was impressed and dismayed despite herself
”Not here” Benedict chuckled ”Come, I will show you” And before she could protest he had taken her arreeted with enthusiaser who must have noticed Ruby'sa s, madam and sir May I be of service to you?”
”Yes,” Benedict turned to Ruby, as they settled down in the s in front of the” He selected the biggest diaold-plated penknife fitted with a special tool and prised open the claws of the setting to a chorus of horrified squeals froe,” he snapped, and they subsided as Benedict took the loose stone and laid it on the velvet-covered tray
”Firstly, size This stone is about one carat” He looked for confirer who nodded ”Let us say the value of this stone is 500 pounds Ten siht?
However, a ten-carat stone may be worth as much as 175,000 So the price per carat rises sharply as the total weight of the stone increases If I were investing I would not touch a stone under three carats” The staff were listening noith as much attention as Ruby
”Next, colour,” said Benedict, and glanced at the er scratched in his drawer and laid a sheet of paper in front of Benedict who placed the stone upon it, bottom upwards
”We coood natural light” He looked up at the hts, and open those curtains, please” The er obeyed with alacrity
”This is a ed by a standard We forget about the fancy rare colours like blue and red and green, and take our top standard as blue-white
A stone so white as to appear slightly blue, after which the distinctions drop to ”fine white”, and ”white” Then stones which ”draw” a yellowish tinge which we call ”Cape” - in different shades, then finally stones which ”draw” a brown colour - which will reduce the value of a stone by up to eighty percent” Benedict fished in his fob pocket and pulled out a guinea case which he opened
”Every expert carries a special diae all other stones This is ed apprehensive looks as Benedict placed a small diamond beside the other He studied thee in the case
”Second Silver Cape, I'd say,” he grunted, and the staff looked suitably abashed ”Noe consider the stone's perfection” He looked at the er was er was deeply embarrassed
”You sell diamonds - Yet you do not own a loupe” Benedict shook his head in disapproval ”No lass from his inner pocket and placed it in his eye
”Iirdle, or a bubble or pinpoint of carbon in the stone, on the other hand they can be gross ”cracks”, ”clouds”, ”ice”, or ”feathers” which will ruin the value of the stone
But this one is flawless - so when the certificate of flawlessness is issued there will be no lass and tucked it back into his pocket
However, in order to produce a flawless stone, the cut has been squeezed” He held up the stone between thuer
”The cut or ”make” of a stone is the fourth and final decider of its value The ”make” should conform closely to the ”ideal” This stone has been cut to exclude a flaw, and in consequence it is badly proportioned - heavy and out of round I would prefer to see a graceful stone which includes a slight irotesque little cripple like this He put the dia price by Paradise Jewellers for this stone is ”500 pounds which would be fair and correct for a geh it is flawless it is of ungainly make Its true value would be about - ah, let's see - 185 pounds approximately” There was another chorus of protest froer
”I assure you, sir, that all our stones have beenhave you been with Paradise Jewellers?” Benedict deaped at him
”Before that you were a salese firer fluttered his hands weakly ”How did you know that?”
”I like to know about all er looked stunned
”That's correct My name is Benedict van der Byl I own Paradise Jewellers” Ruby clapped her hands and cooed her applause
”What a bundle of surprises you are!” she exclaiement and inclined his head
”Now,” he said, as he rose and helped Ruby to her feet
”We will go and buy some real diamonds Aaron Cohen sold them two fine white twinfor a pair of white-gold earrings froave Aaron his cheque for twenty thousand pounds, then turned to Ruby
”Now,” he said ”We'll have lunch at the Celeste Grillroom The food is bloody awful - but the decor is stupendous We had best phone and reserve a table - it isn't really necessary but they get terribly hurt if you don't” As they settled back in the lush upholstery of the Bentley, Benedict instructed the chauffeur
”Go past Trafalgar Square, Edmund I want to pick up the newspapers from South Africa House” Edmund double-parked outside the Anized the car and hurried inside to fetch the bundle of newspapers
As they pulled away around the square towards Hayus
”Let's see what's happened at hoe, and stiffened perceptibly
”What is it?” Ruby leaned towards hi across the page like the shuttle of a loo it white and intent
He finished reading, and pushed the paper towards her She spread the page
VAN DER BYL DIAMONDS WIN VALUABLE CONCESSION
APPEAL COURT SUPPORTS KAISER'S MINERAL GRANT
LANCE GETS THUNDERBOLT AND SUICIDE
Bloeent application by the Central Diamond Mines Ltd, to prevent Van Der Byl Dia a concession area off the South West African Coast, Mr justice Tro in his judgranted by German Imperial Decree in 1899, and subsequently ratified by Act of the Union Parliaood in law, and will take precedent over any subsequent grant or concession purporting to have been made by the Minister of Mines to any other party”
”The area in dispute covers 100 square kilo soe Bay and five miles offshore The islands are known as Thunderbolt Island and Suicide Island, and at the turn of the century were the site of considerable exploitation by a Gerer of Van Der Byl Diahts to the concession when he took over the inoperative guano company
”In Cape Town today Mr Lance stated: ”It's the opportunity I have waited for all my life All indications are that Thunderbolt and Suicide will prove to be one of the richest marine diamond fields in the world”
”Van Der Byl Dia codoin recovery operations off Thunderbolt and Suicide Islands before the end of the year” Ruby lowered the paper and looked at Benedict
What she saas an intense physical shock
Benedict had crumpled down in the seat Gone was all the assurance and savoir fare His face was deathly pale, but now his lips tre with tears He hunched forward over his hands, shaking his head gently and hopelessly
”The bastard,” he whispered, and his voice was soggy and ht that I had him at last but - Oh God, I hate him He looked at her, his face soft with self-pity ”He does it every tiht I had him, but he just-” She was mystified by his reaction
”Aren't you pleased? Van Der Byl Diamonds will make millions-”