"I will help your cousin to stop smoking," said the man, putting the pipe in his pocket. "Aha! what is this?"

The Secretary blushed his face.

"What is this?"

"That is my pair of pajamas!" said the Secretary.

"Pajamas?"

"Put them back, please?" said the Secretary. "A man's pajamas are not for the vulgar gaze of the world!"

"Pajamas!" said the man.

"My pajamas!" said the Secretary.

"They look like a Chinaman's Sunday trousers—yes?"

The Secretary looked into the pitiless faces of the multitude which was gazing into his trunk, but they handed him nothing save small bunches of laughter.