d44 THE DIAMOND AND OTIIEE PRECIOUS STONES. 



such was the agitation of the owner, and so convulsively did his hand 

 tremble, that I was obliged to attach the stone to a wooden ruler with 

 a bit of green wax before I could render the phenomenon clear to him. 

 The instant he saw the double refraction, the bearing of wliich I had 

 explained, he seemed overcome with emotion ; and after remaining some 

 minutes in a half-stupefied condition, he suddenly rose and abruptly 

 took his leave, doubtless to hide his emotion, too powerful to be con- 

 trolled. He afterward sent me his card, apologizing for his hasty 

 departure, but 1 never learned what great interest I had compromised or 

 what hopes I had dissipated in thus determining the character of the 

 stone. In the work of Mawe, it may be seen that the white sapphire 

 and the white diamond owe their high price to the fact that they ar ■ 

 often fraudulently substituted for diamonds. Mawe might have added, 

 also, the white zircon, which is heavier even than the sapphire, and 

 which much more resembles the diamond. To exhibit one of these stouts 

 in dress as a real diamond may be only a small exhibition of vanitj", 

 but to sell one for a diamond is a felony which, fortunately, is recognized 

 as such by our courts of justice. 



I need scarcely add that the zircon, like the white sapphire and topaz, 

 possesses the quality of double refraction in a high degree. The test of 

 double refraction is a very convenient one, because it can be exercised 

 without unsetting the stone, and without any complicated apparatus. 

 A little practice enables any one very soon to learn how to recognize the 

 phenomenon ; and this is not much to pay for gaining so absolute a means 

 of identifying a false diamond. 



Diamonds are capable of being colored in various ways. A slight 

 tinge, as in the case of the great Tuscany and the Russian diamonds, 

 detracts from the value ; but when a diamond is found of a lively and 

 rich color, it is very much sought after as a very rare specimen. Tiie 

 Marquis of Dree possesses several of this kind, and especially one of 

 fine rose tint. The specimens which have this character are called stones 

 of affection, and really their owners sometimes regard them with a sen- 

 timent which fully justifies the name. Among the crown diamonds of 

 France there was one of triangular shape, of a fine sapphire blue, and 

 weighing GO carats. This disappeared at the time of the theft of these 

 diamonds, none of which, except the Regent, were ever recovered, doubt- 

 leas because this latter was of more difficult sale than the rest. During 

 his imprisonment, the thief enjoyed among his companions great con- 

 sideration on account of the magnitude of his villainy. On what may 

 not distinction be based in this world ? 



But the wonder of all colored diamonds is the blue one, owned by Mr. 

 Hope, the form of which has been engraved in the report of the London 

 Exposition. Mawe characterizes it as superlatively beautiful. It weighs 

 44^ carats, and often, according to Mr. Tennant, unites the blue color of 

 the sapphire with the prismatic luster and brilliance of the diamond. 

 Every one w'ho has studied the play and the effect of precious stones in 



