"Devilish lovely night," I said, poking my head out. And it was. Stars overhead and all that sort of thing, and lots of them below, too--I could hear them singing over on Broadway. "All right, old chap; then here they go into the street," I said. "If my friend can't have 'em, then no jolly crowned heads shall. That's flat!" Billings started forward with a regular scream. I waved him back. "Don't come any nearer, old chap," I said, holding my arm out of the window, "or, dash me, I'll drop them instantly. Six stories, you know--stone flagging below." "But, Dicky--" "If you don't say you'll take 'em, time I count three, I'll give 'em a toss, by Jove! One!" "Here, Dicky! Don't be a--" "Two!" I counted. No bluff, you know; I meant jolly well to do it. "Just one word--one second, Dicky!" he yelled. "Let me off with one, then. Dicky! Dicky, old chap! Be a good sportsman!" I hesitated. Dash it, one hates to take an advantage. Billings stretched out his arm appealingly. "Do, old chap!" he pleaded. "Give me just one--one only!" His hand shook like a quivering what's-its-name leaf. I yielded reluctantly: "Oh, well then, call it off with one," I said. And with a sigh I tossed him one of the rubies and dropped the other in the pocket of my smoking-jacket. Billings wiped his forehead, and then he thanked me and wiped his eyes. "So good of you to give in, old chap," he snuffled. "Never will forget you for it!" "Oh, I say, chuck it, you know!" I protested. "Whole family will thank you," he went on in his handkerchief. "Princely magnanimity and all that sort of thing--you'll just _have_ to come up for the week end with me this--" "I _will_!" I reached forward eagerly and insisted on shaking hands. By Jove, what luck! And Billings looked regularly overcome. All he could do was just shake his head and pump my arm. Why, dash it, this seemed to affect him more even than giving in about the ruby. It was the first time I had ever accepted his invitation, you know. "Tell you what, old chap," he said, as soon as he could speak. "I'm going to tell you what to do with that other stone. You save that for _her_." "Her!" By Jove, I was so startled I lost the grip on my monocle. Billings nodded emphatically. "Yes, sir--for _her_; she'll be along one of these days." "By Jove, you know!" I was almost dizzy with a sudden idea. I fished out the jewel and held it before my glass, squinting doubtfully at it. I wondered if it was _good_ enough for "her." "I say, Billings," I murmured thoughtfully. "Blondes or brunettes, you know--which wear rubies?" "Both!" He said it with a kind of jaw snap. "They wear anything in the jewel line they can freeze on to." "But which--" "The worst? Blondes, my boy--blondes, every time; especially those going around in black." Billings spoke gloomily. "Let me tell you, my boy--and I _know_--don't you ever have anything to do with a blonde if she's in _black_, especially black silk--hear?"