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FIRE IN THE EARTH
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diamond
importing and exporting house, and proposed to make diamonds
synthetically. He could, he said, produce a diamond in an electric
furnace that would be undis-tinguishable from Nature's gems. Sir
Julius, skeptical, went nevertheless to Paris and Lemoine's laboratory
to watch an experiment. At its conclusion a diamond was produced. A
second demonstration was equally "successful."
Thoroughly
convinced, Sir Julius wrote out a check for $320,000 with the
understanding that Lemoine was to establish a large laboratory at Pau
and turn out synthetic diamonds. In return, Lemoine agreed to deposit
in the Union of London and Smith's bank a sealed envelope containing
what he claimed to be the formula for making diamonds, to become the
property of Sir Julius in the event of the scientist's death.
Sir
Julius waited nearly three years, but no diamonds were produced. He had
Lemoine arrested and instituted proceedings in the French courts to
obtain removal of the envelope from the London bank. The case was
transferred to London and finally a Court of King's bench ordered the
envelope sent to the French court. The frightened Lemoine agreed that
he would again demonstrate the success of his formula but only upon
condition that the contents of the envelope remain a secret. He was
given a month to do this, appeared in court asking for an additional
week—and then disappeared.
The envelope was ordered opened and this was Lemoine's brilliant formula:
Place
powdered carbon and sugar in a crucible in an electric furnace. Use a
current of from 1,500 to 1,800 amperes under a tension of 110 volts,
and so heat to 1,600 degrees. Then put pressure on the cover of the
crucible and diamonds should be found therein.
Diamonds should have been found, but they weren't—
(202)
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