I spoke fast, and in talking to him convinced myself, so when I stopped for want of breath I was quite sure that the stone was indeed a diamond, and that Aldobrand had duped us.
Still Elzevir showed little eagerness, and only said-- ''Tis like enough that what you say is true, but what would you have us do?
The stone is flung away.' 'Yes,' I answered; 'but I saw where it fell, and know the very place; let us go back now at once and get it.' 'Do you not think that Aldobrand saw the place too ?' asked Elzevir; and then I remembered how, when I turned back to the room after seeing the stone fall, I caught the eyes of the old merchant looking the same way; and how he spoke more quietly after that, and not with the bitter cry he used when Elzevir tossed the jewel out of the window.
'I do not know,' I said doubtfully; 'let us go back and see.

It fell just by the stem of a red flower that I marked well.

What!' I added, seeing him still hesitate and draw back, 'do you doubt?
Shall we not go and get it ?' Still he did not answer for a minute, and then spoke slowly, as if weighing his words.

'I cannot tell.

I think that all you say is true, and that this stone is real.