"This is—this is funny. This is very funny indeed." Mr. Fungst said "dis" instead of "this," and "vunny" instead of "funny." "Is—is it anything you have come to see about?"
"Only you, my Fungst—only you."
The two friends looked at each other. Mr. Brooke's lips were parted by a smile. There was a curious look in Mr. Fungst's eyes. He seemed rather ill at ease.
"That is very funny. Do you know, I was putting a few things together to come over to London to-night to have a little talk with you."
"What was to be the purport of the talk, my Fungst?"
"It was only about a little thing. It was just a word I wished to say to you about"—Mr. Fungst glanced at the floor, then up again—"about the diamond."
"The diamond?" Mr. Brooke's smile grew more pronounced.
"Just a little talk."
"It's sold."
"Sold? What! The diamond?"
A singular change took place in Mr. Fungst's appearance. His jaw dropped. His eyes seemed to increase in size. His paunchy frame seemed to quiver under emotion."
"I found a customer this morning."
"What did you get for it? Twenty—thirty thousand pounds?"
Mr. Brooke laughed outright. "Not quite so much as that"
"Not so much? What did you get for it?"
