they drove uphill trough the mountains for some time. Then the car stopped. and the servants got out to put thick cables round the wheels. slowly the great car was lifted over the tallest rocks by a machine, and put down gently on the other side.
'Now we're on our own road.' said Percy, 'on a piece of land that nobody knows about. My grandfather paid a lot of money to make sure it's not on any maps. There's only one thing we're afraid of only one thing that could find us out.'
'What's that?'
'Aeroplanes. We're got six anti-aircraft guns to take care of them. but there have been a few deaths and a lot of prisoners. Father and I don't mind that , of course but it upsets Mother and the girls.'
Suddenly they saw a beautiful chateau in of them. Moonlight fell on its lake, and there was soft music in the air. The car stopped at the great front door , and Percy said,'We're home.'
Afterwards John's memories of that first night were confused. There were hundreds of room in the chateau, each bigger and brighter than the last. One had walls made of gold, another of diamonds. At dinner, he felt sleepy; the jewels, gold, music, wine and food were making his head go round. He heard a laughing question from Percy's father.
'Yes,' he replied politely,'it certainly is hot enough for me there.' And then he fell asleep.
When he woke up, he was in the most comfortable bed he had ever knows, and Percy was at the bedside.
'I'm sorry,' si=aid John. 'I didn't believe you when you said your family had a diamond as big as the Ritz.'
Percy smiled. "The chateau is built on a mountain which is diamond all the way though - one perfect diamond.'