"I say, Billings, how much did you say one was worth?" I asked carelessly. For a moment he did not reply, but muttered to himself.
"I didn't say," he finally replied, and rather crossly. Then he whirled on me impulsively. "See here, Lightnut," he exclaimed, "if you'll let me have one of those for my collection, I'll give you twenty-five thousand for it—there!"
He gulped and continued:
"I'll have to make some sacrifices, but I don't mind that. I—"
But I shook my head. Really, I could hardly keep from laughing in his face.
"Sorry! Can't see it, old chap," I said. "Wouldn't sell one of them at any price."
Billings gulped again. "I suppose not; don't blame you. Way you're fixed, you don't have to." He walked slowly to the window and back. "Take my advice, Dicky, and get those fire coals into your safe deposit vault first thing in the morning. Hello, you're cutting them off! That's wise."
For with the knife he had left on the table I was cutting away the tough threads that held the rubies. I cut off the second and fourth, leaving the first ruby at the collar and the other two alternates.
"Go on," said Billings, as I laid down the knife. "You've only removed two."
"Don't believe I'll cut off any more," I said. "Want you to help me tie up the others just as they were."