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AN EXPENSIVE FARCE
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415
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large;
millions of dollars worth could be sold, the stock market could be
manipulated for millions, or the formula would be worth millions to the
men who controlled the natural supply.
Whatever
the arguments or apparent proofs submitted, Sir Julius became
sufficiently interested to go to Paris and visit Lemoine's house in the
Rue Lecourbe to see what could be done. There, Lemoine convinced his
visitor that he had actually manufactured some diamonds which were
found in the furnace at the conclusion of his experiments. Lord
Armstrong was also invited to be present at another seance and was
equally certain that they were diamonds which were produced in the
furnace, and that no trick had been performed. It has been said since,
that a person has been discovered who supplied Lemoine with fusible
.plugs, in which it is supposed the diamonds afterwards found in the
crucible, were concealed.
As a result of these demonstrations Sir Julius Wern-her gave Lemoine $320,000 for the establishment of a laboratory at Pau.
Previous
to approaching Sir Julius in the first place, Lemoine had deposited in
the Union of London and Smith's Bank, a sealed envelope which he
claimed contained the formula for making diamonds.
Time
moved along at its usual rate, but the pace was too fast for the
diamond magician. The diamonds did not materialize with the same speed;
indeed, they were altogether wanting. Doubts followed impatience and
finally developed full-fledged and active suspicions, which culminated
in the arrest of Lemoine in Paris in January, 1908, at the instance of
Sir Julius Wernher,
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