"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!"