178 THE SANCI.
that
a high polish could thus be effected. The Duke confided his three great
diamonds to the hands of this cutter and was so delighted with the
result that he rewarded the clever lapidary with three thousand ducats.
Of the diamonds thus cut, one was presented to Pope Sixtus iv. and
another to Louis xi. of France. This latter diamond was set
heart-shaped in a ring between clasped hands, a symbol of truth and
faithfulness, and as such was a singularly inappropriate gift to one
of the most perfidious monarchs who ever sat on a throne.
The
third stone the Duke kept for himself and wore it on his finger. This
is the one writers have been pleased to call the Sanci, but they agree
in no other detail of its history. The description of the Sanci — an
almond-shaped stone covered all over with facets — does not agree with
the description of the Duke's diamond ; but this awkward fact has been
easily got over by not mentioning it. Still on making the Sanci belong
to Charles the
