He could have stolen it
from him almost any night when he was asleep, but that was left for his
friend to do.' 'Was the diamond you speak of a very valuable one?' I
asked. 'It was a green diamond of immense value,' answered Rung; 'it was
called _The Great Hara_ because of its colour, and it was first worn by
the terrible Aureng-Zebe himself, who had it set in the haft of his
scimitar.' 'But by what means did Captain Chillington become possessed
of so valuable a stone?' Said he, 'Two years ago, at the risk of his own
life, he rescued the eldest son of the Rajah of Gondulpootra from a
tiger who had carried away the child into the jungle. The Rajah is one
of the richest men in India, and he showed his gratitude by secretly
presenting the Great Hara Diamond to the man who had saved the life of
his child.' 'But why should Captain Chillington carry so valuable a
stone about his person?' I asked. 'Would it not have been wiser to
deposit it in the bank at Bombay till such time as the Captain could
take it with him to England?' 'The stone is a charmed stone,' said Rung,
'and it was the Rajah's particular wish that the sahib Chillington
should always wear it about his person. So long as he did so he could
not come to his death by fire by water, or by sword thrust.' Said I,
'But how did the Russian know that Captain Chillington carried the
diamond about his person?' 'One night when the Captain had had too much
wine he showed the diamond to his friend,' answered Rung.
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