268 THE GREAT DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD.
that
it has been made the subject of more contradictory accounts than
perhaps any other historical jewel, the " Koh-i-Nur" alone excepted.
Such accounts serve, however, at least to illustrate the anxiety which
is naturally felt to enhance " the rare and beautiful " with a history
worthy the intense desire to possess them, and thus to excuse our
idolatry.
Whether
Messrs. Oulman's expectations were fully realised or not, we cannot
say. But in any case they appear to have soon found a purchaser for the
" Sancy " in the Maharaja of Puttiala. In the account of the Prince of Wales' Tour in India it
is stated that at the Grand Durbar, this native prince wore on his
turban many fine diamonds which were said to have belonged to the
Empress Eugenie, and " the ' Great Sancy ' as a pendant."
By
a strange fatality this stone has again been thrown on the market. As
the Prince of Wales was landing in England on his return from India, a
telegram was put into his hand announcing the sudden death of his
friend the Maharaja of Puttiala. In consequence of this event, the '
Sancy ' is once more on sale.
