The Famous Diamond Learn English through story level 3
chapter one
lady vandaler’s hat box
harry hartley was a kind shy young man
until his 16th birthday he received the
education most english gentlemen get
harry did not like studying very much so
he was allowed to finish his education
before most young men do
however harry loved music and he could
sing and play the piano well
these talents and a bit of luck helped
harry to find a job when his parents
died just two years after he finished
school
that was how harry hartley began a new
life as private secretary to major
general sir thomas vandaler
when he was young sir thomas vandaler
was a soldier in india
he was poor when he left england but he
made a good career for himself working
for the raja of kashgar
when sir thomas returned to england he
had with him one of the largest diamonds
in the world
this was known as the raja’s diamond
the roger of kashgar gave this wonderful
diamond to sir thomas to thank him for
something he did for the raja
nobody knew exactly what sir thomas did
to get the famous diamond but the
diamond made him one of the richest and
most important men in england
in his new life he was always invited to
exclusive parties
soon he was married to one of the
richest and most beautiful women in
england
but for harry life was not so pleasant
in the vandalium household
so thomas was a very difficult man to
live with
and harry did not really like working
for him
so thomas was often angry and shouted at
harry
but sir thomas’s wife lady vandaler
liked harry very much and treated him
like a son
harry liked lady vandaler too and he was
happy to do different jobs for her
most days she gave harry some money and
sent him to different expensive shops to
buy her hats or other things she wanted
early one morning harry was in the
living room
and he could hear the conversation lady
vandaler was having with her brother
charlie pendragon
charlie was a lazy young man
it must happen today or never
said lady vandaler to her brother oh
clara he replied
i know it must happen today
but it is such a bad thing to do
don’t be silly charlie said lady vandala
remember what i always say
the family before all
and clara before the family
yes
dear sister
you’re so clever said charlie
i must go now i don’t want him to find
me here
charlie left quickly by the back stairs
harry
said lady vandaler turning to look at
him i have an important errand for you
this morning
it’s a secret and no one must know about
it
sir thomas may get very upset
lady vandaler continued i want you to
take my hat box to an address on the
other side of london and give it to a
man i know there
please remember to get a receipt for it
do you understand
harry started repeating her instructions
but just then sir thomas came into the
room his face read with anger
look at this bill madam he cried i know
you married me for my money but i don’t
want you to spend all of it
mr hartley said lady vandaler please go
on your errand wait said sir thomas
looking at harry
then he turned to lady vandala and said
what is this errand i don’t trust him or
you after all what does he do to earn
his money it’s a mystery to everyone i
thought you had something to tell me
privately said lady vandaler don’t try
to change the subject insisted sir
thomas you spoke about an errand i don’t
want our servants to listen to our
arguments mr hartley you may go
harry quickly left the room and as he
ran upstairs to get the hat box he could
hear sir thomas’s loud angry voice and
lady vandalized cold replies
harry often went on these secret errands
for lady vandala
he knew lady vandaler spending was a
problem
and he often went around london paying
small amounts of money to different
people for her
but harry was always loyal to his lady
besides he disliked sir thomas and he
understood lady vandaler’s love for
expensive things
it was a hot day and harry decided to
walk through kensington gardens to stay
in the open
harry walked near the magnificent
kensington palace and was almost through
the gardens when sir thomas suddenly
appeared in front of him where are you
going demanded sir thomas i’m just
taking a little walk in the park on this
lovely day
replied harry lying to his employer
with that thing said sir thomas pointing
at lady vandaler’s hat box you’re lying
and you know it
where did my wife tell you to go cried
sir thomas
so thomas started to raise his walking
stick to hit harry but suddenly charlie
pendragon appeared sir thomas you can’t
treat mr hartley like this
no one can tell me what to do
said sir thomas raising his walking
stick and trying to hit charlie
a moment later they were fighting and a
crowd of people was looking at them run
harry run cried charlie as he continued
fighting
harry ran away as fast as he could
thinking all the time
why was sir thomas so curious about what
was in the hat box
what doesn’t lady vandaler want her
husband to know
is she doing something dishonest
why were they arguing
but harry stopped thinking when he
suddenly realized that he was lost
he was now in a very narrow street it
had high garden walls on both sides
everything was still and silent
as harry hurried along the street he
wondered where he was
this part of london was completely new
to him
while he was wondering where he was
someone shouted his name
he turned around and saw charlie
pendragon coming quickly after him
he looked angry
harry knew that charlie helped him
earlier
but by now harry was so frightened that
he ran
he knew that he had to hide
he ran around a corner climbed over a
garden wall and fell over into a garden
with a soft thump
harry was not hurt but he lay on the
soft wet ground for a few seconds and
thought
what am i going to do now
but he had no time to think anymore
a large man was looking down at him
he picked harry up easily and stood in
front of him
who are you
demanded the man angrily and why did you
come into my garden in this way
harry was too frightened to speak so the
man went on speak up young man i’ll take
you to the nearest police station
just look what you have done to my
flowers
but as the man looked at the ground
his eyes opened wide and he said
what’s all this
harry looked where the man was looking
the hat box was open and all over the
ground around them between their feet
and under the roses were diamonds
there were diamond rings diamond
earrings
a magnificent tiara made of diamonds and
dozens of diamonds shining in the sun
chapter 2
a surprise in the garden
harry could not think of anything to say
all he could do was look at the diamonds
the man was silent for a long time too
before he finally spoke
now i understand
you stole these and ran away
don’t worry
i see there are enough for two here
he went down on his knees and started to
quickly pick up the diamonds and put
them back in the hat books
let’s go inside where no one can see us
said the man getting up
the two men walked across the garden
harry was so afraid he still could not
speak
he understood that he was in big trouble
the idea that lady vandaler was doing
something dishonest made harry sad
he thought
now i understand why sir thomas shouted
at his wife before i left the house
she’s spending too much money
she probably wanted to sell her diamonds
to pay her bills
just as harry and the man were about to
go into the man’s house
a young man came into the garden
by the way he was dressed harry could
see he was either a priest or studying
to become a priest
the older man touched harry’s arm and
whispered don’t say a word
then he said
hello mr ronnis this is a young friend
of mine who came to see my beautiful
roses
how do you do
oh but
haven’t we met before
asked mr ollis
aren’t you mr hartley
the man did not give harry time to
answer he quickly pushed harry inside
the house and said i’m sorry mr allis
but my friend can’t stay long we really
must go now
so harry and the man went inside and
left mr rolliss outside in the garden
the man immediately closed the curtains
and then he sat down at the table
he divided lady vandaler’s diamonds into
two unequal piles
he gave the smaller one to harry
now leave
and don’t ever come here again
he said angrily
harry did not know what to do
but he knew he could not fight this man
the man then pushed him into the street
and he fell to the ground
the diamonds in his pocket were now all
over the road
as he lay there a man in dark clothes
appeared and quickly picked up most of
the diamonds and ran off
now what could he say to lady vandaler
when harry got back to the vandalium
house he found sir thomas lady vandala
and charlie pendragon waiting for him
obviously sir thomas now knew everything
about his wife’s plans to sell the
diamonds
harry gave sir thomas the few diamonds
he still had
but sir thomas was so angry both with
his wife and harry that he didn’t
believe the story of the man in the
garden
finally when he was a bit calmer he said
and now mr hartley i’m going to take you
straight to the police station
you can tell them everything
harry knew he had no choice but to go
with sir thomas
when they got there harry told his story
to an inspector
the inspector listened carefully and
after harry stopped talking said
i’ll take you back to that man’s house
again
if what you say is true we must find
this man and get the diamonds back
immediately
but while harry and the inspector were
walking back to the man’s house mr ollis
was still in the garden thinking
after meeting his landlord’s friend
mr rolliss was certain that it was sir
thomas vandaler’s private secretary
harry hartley
this made him curious about why harry
was there
he could not believe that harry really
was a friend of his dishonest landlord
mr rayburn
so mr ollis decided to look around the
garden
he noticed some damaged roses near the
garden wall and was curious to find out
why
this was very strange because mr rabin
loved his roses
near them he saw a piece of material and
recognized it as the same material as
that of harry’s trousers
now he knew how harry got into the
garden and how the roses were damaged
well well
this is becoming quite interesting
thought mr rollis
just then he noticed something buried
under the roses
he quickly dug it out with his foot
it was a leather jewelry box clearly his
landlord and harry did not know about it
mr rolles turned the box in his hands
he then opened it
and was amazed to see what was inside
on a piece of soft green velvet
was the largest diamond mr rolliss ever
saw
he knew very little about diamonds
but he knew at once that this was very
probably the most precious diamond in
the world
chapter 3
the prince and the diamond hunter
the more mr ollis looked at the raja’s
diamond
the more he was attracted to it
it was as large as a duck’s egg
mr rolliss next did something very
unusual for his character
he quickly looked around the garden to
see if anyone was there
when he saw that no one was there
he quickly put the box with a diamond
inside his pocket
then he quietly left the garden and took
it back to his room
now mr wallace was a thief
mr ollis still needed to talk to his
landlord so he returned to the garden
a few minutes later the police inspector
arrived with harry hartley
terrified mr rayburn immediately gave
back all the diamonds he had
as for mr rolliss
he told the police what he knew and
added i suppose your investigation is
finished now
oh no we’re still missing some other
jewels
there’s a magnificent tiara and also the
most valuable piece the raja’s diamond
answered the inspector
i suppose you’ll find it soon it must be
very difficult to sell such a famous
diamond
replied mr rolles nervously
not really
the thief could cut the diamond into
smaller pieces
then he can sell them separately said
the inspector
after everyone left mr rolliss returned
to his room
he was happy that now he knew how to
sell the diamond
there was only one problem
he did not know how to cut diamonds
he looked in all his books which had no
useful advice at all
but then he remembered an old friend in
edinburgh
of course
why didn’t i think of it before
my friend’s a jeweler
he can teach me how to cut diamonds
thought mr rolliss
he decided he could not wait so he
decided to take the night train to
edinburgh the next day
the following afternoon he left his bags
at the railway station because his train
was not leaving until the evening
he had time to have dinner at his club
first
he met a friend of his when he arrived
at the club
you’re lucky to be here tonight
prince floretzel of bohemia and john van
der luyer are having dinner here said
his friend
i know sir thomas vandaler
but i’ve never met his brother mr
rolliss replied well john vandaler is a
great adventurer he travels around the
world looking for diamonds he knows all
about them said his friend
when he heard this mr rollis suddenly
became very interested in the two men
you must try to listen to their
conversation i’m sure it’s going to be
very interesting add it his friend
but how will i know who they are asked
mr rolliss oh you can’t miss them prince
flores el is the finest gentleman in
europe john vandaler is about 70 with
long white hair and a scar across his
face answered his friend
mr rolliss hurried to the dining room
it was not difficult to find the prince
and john vandaler
the two of them sat at a table together
and were talking intently
there was no one at the table nearest to
theirs good
this is my big chance
thought mr rollis as he sat down at the
table
he tried to listen to what the two men
were saying
did you hear that someone stole the
rogers diamond from my brother thomas
asked john vandaler
yes i heard all about it
i think that diamond should be at the
bottom of the sea
replied prince flores
it’s dangerous
it makes people behave in strange ways
as a diamond hunter and a vandalur i
can’t agree with you said john vandaler
he seemed to be a bit angry
you may not agree with me but a diamond
worth so much money can have great power
it can make people do very strange
things
said prince floresell
that’s right
i’ll do anything to find the raj’s
diamond i’m sure i will one day because
i’m the best diamond hunter in the world
cried john vandaler fiercely
when he heard these words
mr ollis suddenly felt very frightened
oh
what if he finds out
i have the rogers diamond
thought mr rolliss
then he looked at his watch
i must leave now or i’ll miss my train
he thought
a short time later mr rolles got on his
train
he felt happy when the conductor said
you’re lucky
tonight there is only one other
gentleman sharing your carriage
but mr ollis was not happy for very long
he took a seat in his compartment
a man smoking a cigar was standing in
the corridor
as the man turned around mr rolly’s
heart jumped
he had a scar across his face
mr wallace was filled with fear the
other gentleman was john vandaler
chapter four
partners in crime
mr ollis was terrified because john van
der lur was in the same carriage he
became even more afraid after he saw how
the carriage was divided
there were three compartments in the
carriage each compartment was separated
by only a sliding door
there were no locks on the doors so john
van der luyer could easily get into mr
rolliss’s compartment
i’m sure he’s going to find out i have
the roger’s diamond thought mr rolliss
mr rolliss put the diamond in the inside
pocket of his jacket and then put on his
coat
he was determined not to go to sleep and
sat listening for any noise coming from
john vandaler’s compartment
a few hours passed
the train was almost halfway to
edinburgh when mr rolly started to feel
sleepy
he tried to fight sleep but it was very
difficult
his last thought before finally closing
his eyes was of his terrifying neighbor
after some time mr ollis opened his eyes
everything was dark except for a small
light
the train was traveling very fast
now fully awake mister rollis suddenly
sat up
he was very afraid because he had a bad
dream
he felt under his clothes to make sure
the diamond was still there it was
now mr rolliss felt a little better but
he could not fall asleep again
his hat was pulled over his eyes
he stared at the sliding door
everything was quiet
except for the noise of the train
suddenly
he noticed the door moving a little then
a little more
finally it moved enough for him to see
john vandaler’s head
he felt that john vandaler was looking
at him
he kept very still
after some time
john vandaler moved his head back
then he closed the door
mr rolliss did not know why
but he thought john van der lur was
afraid of him
maybe he just came to see if i’m asleep
thought mr rolliss
this made him feel brave enough to go
and open the door himself
he got up and slowly made his way to the
sliding door separating his and john
vandaler’s compartment
when he got there he opened the door
just enough to see what john vandaler
was doing
he was shocked by what he saw
john vandaler had a knife in his hand
he’s using it to cut the sleeve of his
coat
but why
thought mr ollis
he soon saw the reason
there were diamonds in the sleeve of his
coat
and john vandaler was taking them out
and letting them drop into a hat box on
the floor
after the diamonds
john vandaler took from the sleeve a
magnificent tiara
lady van der lur’s tiara
it was exactly as the police inspector
described it
so
john van der lur
is a diamond thief too thought mr
rolliss
this made him feel brave
without thinking he opened the door
completely and said
i take a great interest in diamonds
i see you do as well
i have something here that might
interest you
john vandaler was very surprised and
angry
mr rolles quietly took the diamond box
out
he opened it and showed mr vandaler the
raj’s diamond
john vandaler could do nothing but stare
at it in shock
i see we have diamonds from the same
collection
said mr rolliss i don’t understand
aren’t you a priest
asked john vandaler
i’m a student of theology
but don’t judge me so quickly
i’ll tell you how i found the diamond
you’ll understand why i did what i did
answered mr rolliss
then he told john van der luyer about
his visit to his landlord’s garden
and how he met harry hartley
mr ollis ended his story with these
words
i saw lady vandaler’s tiara
i knew
that we see the world in the same way
i showed you the diamond because i hope
you’ll help me
of course you may have half of what i
make
john van der lur didn’t think twice
about his answer
he said
you’re certainly a very brave man mr
ollis
you’re also better at crime than you
think i can see this is the right job
for you
of course i’ll help you sell the
writer’s diamond
we must go to paris together
but first i just have to do something in
edinburgh for my brother
then we can go to paris
before the end of the month
we’ll be rich mr rolliss
that was how the two men agreed to work
together to sell the diamond
but
to find out what happened to the rogers
diamond
you must first read the story of a young
man named francis gringer
chapter 5
a mysterious benefactor
francis scrimgeour worked in a bank in
the center of edinburgh
he was 25 and lived with his father
his mother died when francis was a young
child
francis did not come from a rich family
but he was lucky to have a very sensible
father
francis’s father made sure his son
received an excellent education
francis had a very normal life
he liked his job and he was very
affectionate to his father
nothing extraordinary ever happened to
him but he was happy
so francis was very surprised when he
received a letter from a lawyer in
edinburgh
francis was curious to find out why the
lawyer was writing to him
so he went to the lawyer’s office
immediately
there he discovered that he had a
mysterious benefactor
his benefactor wanted to give him a lot
of money
500 pounds a year
to receive the money francis had to do
just two things the first thing he had
to do
was go to a play at the theater in paris
the following sunday
the other was that he married someone
his benefactor chose for him
francis was very confused
but i don’t understand it’s also strange
said francis
he was quiet for a moment
then he added why does he want to choose
my wife
what importance is it to
him believe me
your future wife will be very important
to him answered the lawyer
he felt sorry for francis because he saw
how confused the young man was
this news was obviously shocking
both men were silent for a few seconds
finally francis said
i’ll accept my benefactor’s offer
but only if you tell me who he is
i can’t tell you his name
but i can tell you what he has to do
with you
answer the lawyer
your benefactor is your real father
said the lawyer
quietly francis did not know what to say
it was all so confusing
father
isn’t my real father he thought over and
over again
the lawyer gave francis his first check
from his real father and he left the
office
francis left for paris the next day
he stayed in a small hotel and
to start a new life he bought fine new
clothes and began taking french lessons
on saturday afternoon he went to the
theater to pick up the ticket for
sunday’s play
the person at the ticket office gave
francis his ticket
then he said
that’s strange a man just gave me this
ticket a minute ago
what did he look like
asked francis
he was about 70 years old i think with
long white hair
he has a scar across his face
replied the clerk
francis went away immediately and ran
into the middle of the street
he looked around in all directions and
then he saw the person he was looking
for
he saw two men sitting on a bench
they were talking very seriously
the younger one seemed to be a priest
but the other was an old man with long
white hair
francis walked towards them he saw the
old man had a scar across his face
his heart started to beat fast
he sat on a bench behind the two men as
he did not want them to see him
he tried to listen to what the two men
were saying
your suspicions are starting to make me
angry
said the older man
but i’m sure you want to keep the
diamond for yourself
that’s enough
we will meet on tuesday at seven o’clock
mr rolliss not an hour sooner
cried the old man angrily
the old man got up and hurried down the
street
francis followed him quietly but quickly
so this is probably my benefactor and
real father thought francis
but why is he so angry with that young
man
and what was that business about a
diamond
francis felt very confused
the old man’s house was in ruler peak
and had a beautiful view of paris
he went into this large house which had
green shutters
and francis was left outside alone
what am i going to do now
i need to find a room near here thought
francis
luckily he saw a sign outside a tall
house next to the one with the green
shutters
the sign said rooms available
francis went inside and asked for a room
he was lucky to get one that had a view
of the old man’s garden
that man may be my real father
but i’m going to find out what he and
that young theology student are doing
i think there’s something dishonest
going on with that diamond
thought francis
he got up and looked out of the window
into the old man’s garden which had a
tall chestnut tree
it was evening now and the sky was
getting dark
nothing moved
francis looked through the leaves of the
chestnut tree and saw that the old man
was sitting in the garden
a young woman’s voice broke the silence
it came from inside the house
in a moment
the old man answered
a few minutes later he disappeared into
the house for the night
chapter 6
a shocking night
early the next morning francis looked
out the window of his room
a young lady was walking through the
garden
francis thought she was very beautiful
he also thought that she looked very
kind
she may be my sister
but if she’s not
maybe she’ll be my wife one day
thought francis
on his way out of his room francis saw a
porter
he stopped him and asked
who lives in that big house with green
shutters next door
a rich english gentleman called john
vandaler replied the porter
is the lovely young lady his daughter
asked francis
uh yes that’s miss vandalium
her father’s very rich
but she does all the work
because there are no servants answered
the porter
for the rest of the day francis did not
see john vandaler or his daughter he was
very excited because it was finally
sunday i have to go to the theater
tonight
who knows what will happen thought
francis
that night at the theater francis went
to the seat that his ticket showed
he looked over at the box to his right
john vandaler and his daughter were
there
francis felt his cheeks turn red
what are they saying to each other he
wondered
he stared at the stage for a while
he did not want the vandalism to see him
looking at them
but when he went to the box to his right
at the end the vandalism were no longer
there
after the play francis walked back to
his room
he felt even more confused than before
nothing else happened the next day or
the next which was tuesday
suddenly francis thought of something
now i remember
the young man that vandalium was talking
to
is coming to his house at seven o’clock
thought francis
a few minutes before seven francis
looked out of his window
a table was set for dinner in the garden
at exactly seven o’clock the young man
who seemed a priest arrived
john vandaler showed him into the garden
mr rolly spoke very little and looked
very serious
john vandaler instead often laughed
loudly
after the two men finished their dinner
miss vandaler brought the coffee tray
john vandaler stood up quickly and said
and now let me serve you the coffee
he went to the small table near the
dinner table
he poured the coffee into two cups
then he poured another liquid into the
smaller cup
he did this so quickly that francis was
not sure he really saw him do it
but then francis saw john vandaler give
mr rolliss the smaller cup
maybe that didn’t happen
and i really didn’t see what i think i
saw
thought francis
suddenly francis heard a loud thump
mr rolliss was lying on the grass
oh father
what did you do
is he dead cried miss vandala
silence
mr rolles is not dead
he only fainted
help me take him inside said john
vandaler
the two took mr ollis by the arms and
legs and went into the house
i think they’re in trouble
i must do something quickly thought
francis
without thinking he climbed out of his
window and down the big tree into john
van der lur’s garden
he did not knock on the door but ran
straight into the house
he saw mr vandaler standing over mr
rolliss’s body
mr vandaler then took something out of
mr rolliss’s pocket
he quickly gave it to his daughter
suddenly francis cried father let me
help you i won’t ask any questions
father
what is this who are you cried john
vandaler surprised by francis’s
appearance
then mr vandaler realized who he was and
laughed
oh i see you’re scrimger i’m not your
father
you’re my brother’s illegitimate son
you’ve entered my private residence by
force
and what’s more this is a bad moment
because my guest has fainted
john vandaler was angry with francis
my brother wanted you to marry my
daughter
he made you come here to paris and go to
the theater on sunday night
this was so my daughter could see you
for the first time
well
she saw you
and she didn’t like what she saw
now
go
and don’t ever come back here again
he ordered
francis quietly followed miss van der
lur to the door
he felt sad
miss vandala opened the door and said
what my father said to you isn’t true i
told him i wanted to meet you again
before deciding
i’m very sorry he was so horrible to you
i’d like to see you again said francis
please give me something so that i can
remember you she smiled and took
something from her pocket
then she whispered
please take this keepsake
promise not to look at it until you’re
safe
now go
quickly francis started running down the
road when he heard a terrible cry from
the vandalium house
it was mr rolliss
francis ran for his life and finally sat
down at the cafe american
then he remembered what was in his
pocket and took it out
it was a leather jewelry box
i saw this before at the house
it’s what mr van der lur took out of mr
ross’s pocket
francis thought suddenly
he opened the box and got the shock of
his life
in the box on the green velvet there was
the largest and most beautiful diamond
francis ever saw
chapter 7
a prince to the rescue
francis continued staring at the diamond
he was still in shock a few minutes
later when he felt a hand on his
shoulder
he looked up and saw an elegantly
dressed man standing next to his table
the stranger sat down next to him and
whispered in his ear
close the box and put it back into your
try to stop looking so surprised and
make everyone think that you know me
i fear you must be an
amateur francis looked at the man and
saw that he was smiling
he had a friendly face please
tell me who you are and what this means
said francis
very well but first you must tell me who
you are and what you are doing with the
raja’s diamond
answered the man the roger’s diamond
repeated francis yes that’s what you
were holding
i know because i saw it at sir thomas
vandaler’s house many times said the man
francis was silent for a moment
he could not believe the famous raj’s
diamond was in his pocket
he also could not believe that this
amazing diamond belonged to his real
father
finally
something about the man’s friendly face
made francis believe he was an honest
man
he decided to tell the man the whole
story of how he got the diamond
after he finished the man said
now i know all about you
but you don’t even know who i am yet
he called a waiter to their table
will you be so kind as to tell this
young man my name please the man asked
certainly sir said the waiter
turning to francis he said
you have the honor of sharing the same
table with his highness
prince laureate of bohemia
and now that you know who i am
i think you can trust me with the
diamond said the prince smiling
without saying a word francis took the
diamond out of his pocket again and gave
it to the prince
you did the right thing francis
i see that you are a good person
you’ll see that i can help you get out
of this difficult situation
now come with me
said the prince
the two men left the cafe and the prince
showed francis to his carriage
then the prince said
my driver will take you to my mansion
just outside paris
there you can wait for my return
don’t worry
i’ll take care of everything
you’ll marry miss vandaler at last
as his carriage drove away the prince
made his way to john van der lur’s house
as he knocked on the door the prince
thought
i’m going to teach john vandaler a
lesson he’ll never forget
john vandaler himself opened the door
he looked very angry but tried not to
show it
what a pleasure it is to see your
highness
please come in said john vandaler
he showed the prince into the living
room
miss vandala was sitting on a sofa
she looked very sad
mr ollis was sitting on another sofa and
seemed to be very confused
the prince turned to john vandaler and
said
i am here on business
you will do as i say or things will be
worse for you
at the earliest date your daughter will
marry francis vandaler your brother’s
son
and my friend
and you will give him a dowry
of ten thousand
pounds believe me
i didn’t know the young man was your
friend
i’m sorry if i offended him answered
john vandala
the prince knew john vandaler was not
sorry at all
all he was interested in was his
brother’s diamond
now you know he’s my friend
and you will do as i say
i’m going to go now
mr hollis
you’re coming with me said the prince
a moment later john vandaler left the
house too
he looked very angry as he almost ran
down the street towards the police
station
chapter eight
a river saves the day
prince flores el and mr rolliss were
almost at mr rolliss’s
please help me
i’m no good as a priest and even worse
as a thief
try to forget what happened
go to australia and buy a farm
said the prince
oh but how do i know that diamond isn’t
ruining someone else
cried mr rolliss
to show you that i believe you really
are sorry
i’m going to tell you a secret
i
have the raja’s diamond
i’m going to make sure it doesn’t get
anyone into trouble ever again said
prince floresel oh
thank you for believing me
said mr rollis
well here we are at your hotel
go inside and forget all your troubles
goodbye
and good luck in australia
said the prince
prince flores turned around and started
walking home
he was not sure about what he wanted to
do with a
give it back to its owner sir thomas
vandaler
but sir thomas did not deserve it
perhaps the only way was to get rid of
the raj’s diamond forever
that diamond will always get its owner
into trouble
thought the prince
he took the case out of his pocket and
opened it
there was the brilliant perfect diamond
if i look at it any longer i’ll want to
keep it
thought the prince
that he still was not sure about what to
do
he approached his home
he always felt happier when he got
nearer
he lived in an elegant mansion along the
river sen with tall chimneys and a
beautiful garden
his was the only home in paris that had
a stalk on its roof and this attracted
many people
suddenly as he was entering his home a
man came up to him
do i have the honor of speaking to
prince floresell of bohemia
asked the man yes but what do you want
at this late hour
ask the prince
i’m a detective your highness
i’m here to ask you to come with me to
the police station but what for
ask the prince surprised i haven’t done
anything wrong john van der lur has
accused you of stealing the raja’s
diamond your highness answered the
detective
i see
i can tell you that i haven’t stolen the
diamond
let me explain
let’s walk to the police station
together
said the prince
i’m going to tell you the story of how
sir thomas vandaler came to own the
famous raja’s diamond
i’m very curious to hear it
answered the detective
many years ago
began prince floreso sir thomas vandaler
was a soldier in india
he was not a very good soldier and he
wasn’t very popular
but said thomas was very lucky
one day
he met the raja of kashgar who invited
him to his palace
at the palace
sir thomas saw the largest most
beautiful diamond he ever saw
he decided that he must have it
so he decided to stay in india and serve
the raja who was not an honest man
for three years satomas did many bad
things for the raja
he even betrayed his own soldiers in
danger
because of him
thousands of men were killed
in the end sir thomas made the raja a
very large fortune
to thank him
the raja finally gave him the diamond he
wanted so badly
prince floresell continued his story
after a long walk the detective found
out all about how sir thomas vandaler mr
rollis and francis scringer each came to
own the raj’s diamond
so you see detective
you must agree with me
the raja’s diamond has got everyone who
has touched it into great trouble
that diamond may be extremely beautiful
but it has an evil power over people
it makes them greedy
said the prince
the detective knew the prince was right
the only people the diamond didn’t make
greedy
are francis
and i
added the prince
i have the raja’s diamond here in my
pocket now
god forgive me if i am doing something
wrong
but that diamond’s evil power
must end
tonight
with these words the prince took the
diamond out of his pocket
he looked at it one more time as it
shone in the moonlight
then suddenly without saying anything he
threw it into the sun
it sparkled in the sky before falling
into the river
both men stared at the water in silence
the diamond was now gone
and now let’s go to the station at once
i’m sure you won’t be put in prison once
the chief of police hears this story
said the detective
not long after this eventful night
francis and miss vandallo were married
the prince was happy to be francis’s
best man
the young couple started their life
together and nobody ever talked about
the raja’s diamond again
but there were two people who continued
to look for the diamond
john and thomas vandaler got news of
what happened that night when the
detective came to arrest prince flores
they often took a boat out on the send
to look for the diamond
but because they had wrong information
about the bridge where prince flores was
standing when he threw it in the sen
they spent all their time looking in the
wrong part of the river
people taking a walk along the river
often stopped to watch men diving from
their boat
they didn’t know why the vandalism
organized this diving operation but it
was entertaining to watch
the raj’s diamond stayed at the bottom
of the river where prince flores all
through it and where nobody could see it
shining
and where it could do no harm to anybody
anymore
you