By Jove, his uplifted finger and fierce way of saying it gave me a regular turn, you know. But then there was the ruby, and I was thinking that-- "Perhaps the four of them in a bracelet," I muttered, "with something else to help out. They _might_ do." "They might," said Billings in a tone of coarse sarcasm. "They might do for a queen!" I flashed a quick look at him. "Just what _I_ was thinking," I answered gently. "Meantime," said Billings, yawning, "let's go to bed." And just as I rang for Jenkins I suddenly was seized with a perfectly ripping idea that checked a long yawn right in the middle and almost broke my jaw. For I saw how I could do something handsome that would even up with Billings in a way for the ruby he wouldn't take. "Tell you what, old chap," I said, slapping him on the shoulder, "_you_ are going to have them to-night!" "Have--have what?" burst from him. "Rubies? I tell you I won't take another--" "Rubies!" I ejaculated contemptuously. "Rubies nothing! Something better--something worth while, dash it!" I saw he would never guess it. "Why, you shall sleep in the pajamas from China," I exclaimed. And gathering them, I placed them in his hands. "By George, Dicky!" Billings' face showed feeling. "How infernally clever of you, old chap! How thundering timely, too!" He held them up singly, studying their outlines critically. "And see here, Dicky--why, great Thomas cats!" His eyes turned on me wonderingly. "Never noticed it before--did you? But I do believe they are just my size!" His size! By Jove, I had forgotten all about the item of size! I just collapsed into a chair as he said good night, and sat there blinking in a regular stupefaction of horror as his door closed behind him. For he was devilish sensitive about his bulk, and I dared not say a word. CHAPTER X A NOCTURNAL INTRUSION "Oh, but I say, it's impossible, you know!" And I stared at Jenkins incredulously. He grinned foolishly. "I know, sir; but he's in 'em, just the same, and I must say they do fit lovely--just easy-like." "By Jove!" I gasped helplessly. "Then the jolly things must be made of rubber, that's all! Why, look here, he weighs over three hundred pounds, you know!" Jenkins' head wagged sagaciously. "I think that's how it is, sir; it's wonderful what they do with rubber now; my brother wears a rubber cloth bandage that ain't no bigger 'round than my arm when it's off of him, and he--" "Dare say," I said sleepily as I fell back upon my pillow. "Good night, Jenkins; hope you'll get enough sleep to make up for the other night." Jenkins sighed as he punched out the light. "Thank you, sir--and good night," he murmured.