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'Or put it in the bowl of one of my pipes in the pipe-rack,' he said. 'With some tobacco over it.'
'Or under the soil of the azalea plant,' she said.
'Hey, that's not bad, Betty. That's the best so far.'
They sat at the kitchen table with the shining stone lying there between them, wondering very seriously what to do with it for the next two days while they were away.
'I still think it's best if I take it with me,' he said.
'I don't, Robert. You'll be feeling in your pocket every five minutes to make sure it's still there. You won't relax for one moment.'
'I suppose you're right,' he said. 'Very well, then. Shall we bury it under the soil of the azalea plant in the sitting-room? No one's going to look there.'
'It's not one hundred per cent safe,' she said. 'Someone could knock the pot over and the soil would spill out on the floor and presto, there's a sparkling diamond lying there.'
'It's a thousand to one against that,' he said. 'It's a thousand to one against the house being broken into anyway.'
'No, it's not,' she said. 'Houses are being burgled every day. It's not worth chancing it. But look, darling, I'm not going to let this thing become a nuisance to you, or a worry.'
'I agree with that,' he said.
They sipped their drinks for a while in silence.
'I've got it!' she cried, leaping up from her chair. 'I've thought of a marvellous place!'
'Where?'
'In here,' she cried, picking up the ice-tray and pointing to one of the empty compartments. 'We'll just drop it in here and fill it with water and put it back in the fridge. In an hour or two it'll be hidden inside a solid block of ice and even if you looked, you wouldn't be able to see it.'
Robert Sandy stared at the ice-tray. 'It's fantastic!' he said. 'You're a genius! Let's do it right away!'
'Shall we really do it?'
'Of course. It's a terrific idea.'
She picked up the diamond and placed it into one of the little empty compartments. She went to the sink and carefully filled the whole tray with water. She opened the door of the freezer section of the fridge and slid the tray in. 'It's the top tray on the left,' she said. 'We'd better remember that. And it'll be in the block of ice furthest away on the right-hand side of the tray.'
'The top tray on the left,' he said. 'Got it. I feel better now that it's tucked safely away.'
'Finish your drink, darling,' she said. 'Then we must be off. I've packed your case for you. And we'll try not to think about our million pounds any more until we come back.'
'Do we talk about it to other people?' he asked her. 'Like the Renshaws or anyone else who might be there?'
'I wouldn't,' she said. 'It's such an incredible story that it would soon spread around all over the place. Next thing you know, it would be in the papers.'
'I don't think the King of the Saudis would like that,' he said.
'Nor do I. So let's say nothing at the moment.'
'I agree,' he said. 'I would hate any kind of publicity.'
'You'll be able to get yourself a new car,' she said, laughing.
'So I will. I'll get one for you, too. What kind would you like, darling?'
'I'll think about it,' she said.
Soon after that, the two of them drove off to the Renshaws for the weekend. It wasn't far, just beyond Whitney, some thirty minutes from their own house. Charlie Renshaw was a consultant physician at the hospital and the families had known each other for many years.
