The Firm of Girdlestone

by Arthur Conan Doyle

  CHAPTER XIX.

  NEWS FROM THE URALS.

  Major Tobias Clutterbuck had naturally reckoned that the longer hewithheld this trump card of his the greater would be its effect whenplayed. An obstacle appearing at the last moment produces moreconsternation than when a scheme is still in its infancy. It proved,however, that he had only just levied his blackmail in time, for withina couple of days of his interview with the head of the firm news arrivedof the great discovery of diamonds among the Ural Mountains. The firstintimation was received through the Central News Agency in the form ofthe following telegram:--

  "Moscow, _August_ 22.--It is reported from Tobolsk that an importantdiscovery of diamond fields has been made amongst the spurs of the UralMountains, at a point not very far from that city. They are said tohave been found by an English geologist, who has exhibited manymagnificent gems in proof of his assertion. These stones have beenexamined at Tobolsk, and are pronounced to be equal, if not superior, inquality to any found elsewhere. A company has been already formed forthe purpose of purchasing the land and working the mines."

  Some days afterwards there came a Reuter's telegram giving fullerdetails. "With regard to the diamond fields near Tobolsk," it said,"there is every reason to believe that they are of great, and possiblyunsurpassed, wealth. There is no question now as to their authenticity,since their discoverer proves to be an English gentleman of highcharacter, and his story is corroborated by villagers from this districtwho have dug up stones for themselves. The Government contemplatebuying out the company and taking over the mines, which might beprofitably worked by the forced labour of political prisoners on asystem similar to that adopted in the salt mines of Siberia.The discovery is universally regarded as one which has materiallyincreased the internal resources of the country, and there is some talkof the presentation of a substantial testimonial to the energetic andscientific traveller to whom it is due."

  Within a week or ten days of the receipt of these telegrams in Londonthere came letters from the Russian correspondents of the variousjournals giving fuller details upon a subject of so much generalinterest. The _Times_ directed attention to the matter in a leader.

  "It appears," remarked the great paper, "that a most important additionhas been made to the mineral wealth of the Russian Empire. The silvermines of Siberia and the petroleum wells of the Caucasus are to beoutrivalled by the new diamond fields of the Ural Mountains. For untoldthousands of years these precious fragments of crystallized carbon havebeen lying unheeded among the gloomy gorges waiting for the hand of manto pick them out. It has fallen to the lot of one of our countrymen topoint out to the Russian nation the great wealth which lay untouched andunsuspected in the heart of their realm. The story is a romantic one.It appears that a Mr. Langworthy, a wealthy English gentleman of goodextraction, had, in the course of his travels in Russia, continued hisjourney as far as the great mountain barrier which separates Europe fromAsia. Being fond of sport, he was wandering in search of game down oneof the Ural valleys, when his attention was attracted by the thickgravel, which was piled up along the track of a dried-up water-course.The appearance and situation of this gravel reminded him forcibly of theSouth African diamond fields, and so strong was the impression that heat once laid down his gun and proceeded to rake the gravel over and toexamine it. His search was rewarded by the discovery of several stones,which he conveyed home with him, and which proved, after being cleaned,to be gems of the first water. Elated at this success, he returned tothe spot next day with a spade, and succeeded in obtaining many otherspecimens, and in convincing himself that the deposit stretched up anddown for a long distance on both sides of the torrent. Having satisfiedhimself upon this point, our compatriot made his way to Tobolsk, wherehe exhibited his prizes to several of the richest merchants, andproceeded to form a company for the working of the new fields. He wasso successful in this that the shares are already far above par, and ourcorrespondent writes that there has been a rush of capitalists, alleager to invest their money in so promising a venture. It is expectedthat within a few months the necessary plant will have been erected andthe concern be in working order."

  The _Daily Telegraph_ treated the matter from a jocose and historicalpoint of view.

  "It has long been a puzzle to antiquaries and geologists," it remarked,"as to where those jewels which Solomon brought from the East wereoriginally obtained. There has been much speculation, too, regardingthe source of those less apocryphal gems which sparkled in the regaliaof the Indian monarchs and adorned the palaces of Delhi and Benares.As a nation we have a personal interest in the question, since thelargest and most magnificent of these stones is now in the possession ofour most gracious Queen. Mr. Langworthy has thrown a light upon thisobscure subject. According to this gentleman's researches thesetreasures were unearthed amidst that dark and gloomy range of mountainswhich Providence has interposed between a nascent civilization and acontinent of barbarians. Nor is Mr. Langworthy's opinion founded upontheory alone. He lends point to his arguments by presenting to thegreedy eyes of the merchants of Tobolsk a bag filled with valuablediamonds, each and every one of which he professes to have discovered inthese barren inhospitable valleys. This tweed-suited English tourist,descending like some good spirit among these dreamy Muscovites, pointsout to them the untold wealth which has lain for so many centuries attheir feet, and with the characteristic energy of his race shows them atthe same time how to turn the discovery to commercial advantage. If thedeposit prove to be as extensive as is supposed, it is possible that ourdescendants may wear cut diamonds in their eye-glasses, should suchaccessories be necessary, and marvel at the ignorance of those primitivedays when a metamorphosed piece of coal was regarded as the mostvaluable product of nature."

  The ordinary British paterfamilias, glancing over his morning paper,bestowed probably but few passing thoughts on the incident, but amongbusiness men and in the City its significance was at once understood.Not only did it create the deepest consternation amongst all who wereconnected with the diamond industry, but it reacted upon every otherbranch of South African commerce. It was the chief subject ofconversation upon the Stock Exchange, and many were the surmises as towhat the effect of the news would be at the fields. Fugger, the fatherof the diamond industry, was standing discussing the question, when alittle rosy-faced Jew, named Goldschmidt, came bustling up to him.He was much excited, for he speculated in stones, and had just beenbuying in for a rise.

  "Misther Fugger," he cried, "you're shust the man I want to see.My Gott, vot is to become of us all? Vot is to become of de diamondtrade ven one can pick them up like cockles on the sea shore?"

  "We must wait for details," the great financier said phlegmatically.His fortune was so enormous that it mattered little to him whether thereport was true or false.

  "Details! It is nothing but details," cried the little Jew."The papers is full of them. I vish to the Lord that that Langworthyhad proke his neck in the Ural Mountains before he got up to any suchgames. Vat business had he to go examining gravel and peeping about insuch places as them. Nobody that's any good would ever go to the UralMountains at all."

  "It won't hurt you," Fugger said; "you'll simply have to pay less foryour stones and sell them cheaper after they are cut. It won't makemuch difference in the long run."

  "Von't it, by Joves! Why, man, I've got over a hundred shtones on myhands now. Vat am I going to do vid 'em."

  "Ah, that's a bad job. You must make up your mind to lose on them."

  "Von't you buy them yourself, Mr. Fugger?" asked the Hebrew, in aninsinuating voice. "Maybe this here story will all turn out wrong.S'elp me bob I gave three thousand for the lot, and you shall have themfor two. Let's have a deal, my tear Mr. Fugger, do?"

  "No more for me, thank you," Fugger said with decision. "As to thestory being wrong, I have telegraphed to Rotterdam, and they have senton a trusty man. He'll be weeks, however, before we hear from him."

  "Here's Mr. Girdlestone, the gr
eat Mr. Girdlestone," cried Goldschmidt,perceiving our worthy merchant of Fenchurch Street among the crowd."Oh, Misther Girdlestone, I've got diamonds here what is worth threethousand pounds, and you shall have them for two--you shall, by chingo,and we'll go together now and get them?"

  "Don't pester me!" said Girdlestone, brushing the little Jew aside withhis long, bony arm. "Can I have a word with you, Fugger?"

  "Certainly," replied the diamond dealer. Girdlestone was a verywell-known man upon 'Change, and one who was universally respected andlooked up to.

  "What do you think about this report?" he asked, in a confidentialvoice. "Do you imagine that it will affect prices in Africa?"

  "Affect prices! My dear sir, if it proves true it will ruin the Africanfields. The mere report coming in a circumstantial fashion will sendprices down fifty per cent."

  "As much as that!" said the merchant, with an excellent affectation ofsurprise. "I am anxious about it, for my boy is out there. It was ahobby of his, and I let him go. I trust he will not be bitten."

  "He is much more likely to do the biting," remarked Fugger bluntly.He had met Ezra Girdlestone in business more than once, and had beendisagreeably impressed by the young gentleman's sharpness.

  "Poor lad!" said his father. "He is young, and has had littleexperience as yet. I hope all is well with him!" He shook his headdespondently, and walked slowly homewards, but his heart beattriumphantly within him, for he was assured now that the report wouldinfluence prices as he had foreseen, and the African firm reap thebenefit of their daring speculation.