hing
for it. The bottoms of the streams, the beaches of the lakes, carry as
many particles of gold as they have pebbles and little stones. As for
silver, none take note of it. 'Tis used as building stone."

"In the name of Jehovah, is there support for these wonders you have
spoken?" broke in Fraslin the Jew, his eyes shining with suppressed
excitement.

"Assuredly. Yet I am telling not half of the news which came to my
knowledge this very morning--the story is said to have emanated from the
Palais Royal itself, and therefore, no doubt, is to be traced to this
game unknown queen of the Messasebe. She reports, so it is said, that
beyond the country where L'Huillier secured his cargo of blue earth,
there is a land where grows a most peculiar plant. The meadows and
fields are covered with it, and it is said that the dews of night, which
gather within the petals of these flowers, become, in the course of a
single day, nothing less than a solid diamond stone! From this in time
the leaves drop down, leaving the diamond exposed there, shining and
radiant."

"Ah, bah!" broke in Fraslin the Jew. "Why believe such babblings? We all
know that the diamond is a product not of the vegetable but of the
mineral world!"

"So have we known many things," stoutly replied Varenne, "only to find
ourselves frequently mistaken. Now for my part, a diamond is a diamond,
be it born in a flower or broken from a rock. And as for the excellence
of these stones, 'tis rumored that the lady hath abundant proof. 'Tis no
wonder that the natives of the valley of the Messasebe robe themselves
in silks, and that they deck themselves carelessly with precious stones,
as would a peasant of ours with a chain of daisy blossoms. Now, if there
be such wealth as this, is it not easy to see the profit of a bank which
controls the trade with such a province? True, there have been some
discoveries in this valley, but nothing thorough. 'Tis but recent the
thing hath been done thorough."

The Prince de Conti sat back in his chair and drew a long breath. "If
these things be true," said he, "then this Monsieur L'as is not so bad a
leader to follow."

"But listen!" exclaimed Varenne once more. "I have not even yet told you
the most important thing, and this is rumor which perhaps your Grace has
caught. 'Tis whispered that the bank of the brothers L'as is within a
fortnight to be changed."

"What is that?" queried Fraslin quickly. "'Tis not to be abandoned?"

"By