Once more, with the ring carefully wrapped in a paper and deposited in his pocketbook, Paul started uptown. Tiffany, whose fame as a jeweler is world-wide, was located on Broadway. He had not yet removed to his present magnificent store on Union Square.
Paul knew the store, but had never entered it. Now, as he entered, he was struck with astonishment at the sight of the immense and costly stock, unrivaled by any similar establishment, not only in the United States, but in Europe. Our hero walked up to the counter, and stood beside a richly-dressed lady who was bargaining for a costly bracelet. He had to wait ten minutes while the lady was making her choice from a number submitted to her for inspection. Finally she selected one, and paid for it. The clerk, now being at leisure, turned to our hero and asked:--
“Well, young man, what can I do for you?”
“I have a ring which I should like to show you. I want to know how much it is worth.”
When Paul produced the diamond ring, the clerk, who had long been in the business, and perceived its value at once, started in surprise.
“So I thought,” said Paul. “How much is it worth?”
“Do you mean how much should we ask for it?”
“Probably two hundred and fifty dollars.” Paul was quite startled on finding the ring so much more valuable than he had supposed. He had thought it might possibly be worth a hundred dollars; but he had not imagined any rings were worth as much as the sum named.
The clerk regarded Paul attentively, and, as he thought, a little suspiciously.
“She didn't buy it at all. She found it one day at Central Park. It belongs to her now. She advertised for an owner, and examined the papers to see if it was advertised as lost, but could hear nothing of the one to whom it belonged.”
“I will show this ring to Mr. Tiffany,” said the clerk.
“Are you the boy who brought in the ring?” he asked.
“You say your mother found it two years ago in Central Park?”
“It is a valuable ring. I should be willing to buy it for two hundred and fifty dollars, if I were quite certain that you had a right to dispose of it.”
“I have told you the truth, Mr. Tiffany,” said Paul, a little nettled at having his word doubted.
“That may be, but there is still a possibility that the original owner may turn up.”