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I perceived how the puzzle had been worked。 The box had contained
an arrangement of springs； which； on being released； had expanded
themselves in different directions until their mere expansion had
rent the box to pieces。 There were the springs； lying amid the
ruin they had caused。
There was something else amid that ruin besides those springs；
there was a small piece of writing paper。 I took it up。 On the
reverse side of it was written in a minute； crabbed hand： 〃A
Present For You。〃 What was a present for me？ I looked； and； not
for the first time since I had caught sight of Pugh's precious
puzzle； could scarcely believe my eyes。
There； poised between two upright wires； the bent ends of which
held it aloft in the air； was either a piece of glass ora
crystal。 The scrap of writing paper had exactly covered it。 I
understood what it was； when Pugh and I had tapped with the hammer；
had caused the answering taps to proceed from within。 Our taps
caused the wires to oscillate； and in these oscillations the
crystal； which they held suspended； had touched the side of the
box。
I looked again at the piece of paper。 〃A Present For You。〃 Was
THIS the presentthis crystal？ I regarded it intently。
〃It CAN'T be a diamond。〃
The idea was ridiculous； absurd。 No man in his senses would place
a diamond inside a twopenny…halfpenny puzzle box。 The thing was as
big as a walnut！ And yetI am a pretty good judge of precious
stonesif it was not an uncut diamond it was the best imitation I
had seen。 I took it up。 I examined it closely。 The more closely
I examined it； the more my wonder grew。
〃It IS a diamond！〃
And yet the idea was too preposterous for credence。 Who would
present a diamond as big as a walnut with a trumpery puzzle？
Besides； all the diamonds which the world contains of that size are
almost as well known as the Koh…i…noor。
〃If it is a diamond； it is worthit is worthHeaven only knows
what it isn't worth if it's a diamond。〃
I regarded it through a strong pocket lens。 As I did so I could
not restrain an exclamation。
〃The world to a China orange； it IS a diamond！〃
The words had scarcely escaped my lips than there came a tapping at
the door。
〃Come in！〃 I cried； supposing it was Bob。 It was not Bob； it was
Pugh。 Instinctively I put the lens and the crystal behind my back。
At sight of me in my nightshirt Pugh began to shake his head。
〃What hours； Tress； what hours！ Why； my dear Tress； I've
breakfasted； read the papers and my letters； came all the way from
my house here； and you're not up！〃
〃Don't I look as though I were up？〃
〃Ah； Tress！ Tress！〃 He approached the dressing…table。 His eye
fell upon the ruins。 〃What's this？〃
〃That's the solution to the puzzle。〃
〃Have youhave you solved it fairly； Tress？〃
〃It has solved itself。 Our handling； and tapping； and hammering
must have freed the springs which the box contained； and during the
night； while I slept； they have caused it to come open。〃
〃While you slept？ Dear me！ How strange！ Andwhat are these？〃
He had discovered the two upright wires on which the crystal had
been poised。
〃I suppose they're part of the puzzle。〃
〃And was there anything in the box？ What's this？〃 he picked up the
scrap of paper； I had left it on the table。 He read what was
written on it： 〃'A Present For You。' What's it mean？ Tress； was
this in the box？〃
〃It was。〃
〃What's it mean about a present？ Was there anything in the box
besides？〃
〃Pugh； if you will leave the room I shall be able to dress； I am
not in the habit of receiving quite such early calls； or I should
have been prepared to receive you。 If you will wait in the next
room； I will be with you as soon as I'm dressed。 There is a little
subject in connection with the box which I wish to discuss with
you。〃
〃A subject in connection with the box？ What is the subject？〃
〃I will tell you； Pugh； when I have performed my toilet。〃
〃Why can't you tell me now？〃
〃Do you propose； then； that I should stand here shivering in my
shirt while you are prosing at your ease？ Thank you； I am obliged；
but I decline。 May I ask you once more； Pugh； to wait for me in
the adjoining apartment？〃
He moved toward the door。 When he had taken a couple of steps； he
halted。
〃II hope； Tress； that you'reyou're going to play no tricks on
me？〃
〃Tricks on you！ Is it likely that I am going to play tricks upon
my oldest friend？〃
When he had gonehe vanished； it seemed to me； with a somewhat
doubtful visageI took the crystal to the window。 I drew the
blind。 I let the sunshine fall on it。 I examined it again；
closely and minutely； with the aid of my pocket lens。 It WAS a
diamond； there could not be a doubt of it。 If； with my knowledge
of stones； I was deceived； then I was deceived as never man had
been deceived before。 My heart beat faster as I recognized the
fact that I was holding in my hand what was； in all probability； a
fortune for a man of moderate desires。 Of course； Pugh knew
nothing of what I had discovered； and there was no reason why he
should know。 Not the least！ The only difficulty was that if I
kept my own counsel； and sold the stone and utilized the proceeds
of the sale； I should have to invent a story which would account
for my sudden accession to fortune。 Pugh knows almost as much of
my affairs as I do myself。 That is the worst of these old friends！
When I joined Pugh I found him dancing up and down the floor like a
bear upon hot plates。 He scarcely allowed me to put my nose inside
the door before attacking me。
〃Tress； give me what was in the box。〃
〃My dear Pugh； how do you know that there was something in the box
to give you？〃
〃I know there was！〃
〃Indeed！ If you know that there was something in the box； perhaps
you will tell me what that something was。〃
He eyed me doubtfully。 Then； advancing； he laid upon my arm a hand
which positively trembled。
〃Tress； youyou wouldn't play tricks on an old friend。〃
〃You are right； Pugh； I wouldn't； though I believe there have been
occasions on which you have had doubts upon the subject。 By the
way； Pugh； I believe that I am the oldest friend you have。〃
〃II don't know about that。 There'sthere's Brasher。〃
〃Brasher！ Who's Brasher？ You wouldn't compare my friendship to
the friendship of such a man as Brasher？ Think of the tastes we
have in common； you and I。 We're both collectors。〃
〃Ye…es； we're both collectors。〃
〃I make my interests yours； and you make your interests mine。
Isn't that so； Pugh？〃
〃Tress； whatwhat was in the box？〃
〃I will be frank with you； Pugh。 If there had been something in
the box； would you have been willing to go halves with me in my
discovery？〃
〃Go halves！ In your discovery； Tress！ Give me what is mine！〃
〃With pleasure； Pugh； if