One fine day when Tom was already groping in fear that the iron box may explode with careless handling by someone, found between the leaves of his uncle’s Bible, a numbered list of the stones with their cost. It was dated two years before his uncle’s death. Many of the stones were well known, and their enormous value was also mentioned. Several of the rubies were described with care and curious histories of them were given in detail.
One was said to be the famous “Sunset ruby, ” which had belonged to the Empress-Queen Maria Theresa. One was called the “Blood ruby, ” not because of the colour but on account of the murders it had occasioned. The pearls were described with care as an unequaled collection. Concerning two of them, they seemed to have done much evil and some good. One, a black pearl, was mentioned in an old bill of sale which seemed queer.
‘Genius like precious stones is chiefly prized because of its rarity. ’