p, I allow. But
then, my boy, you gotten ready cash, and don't you forget it."

I do not dwell upon my own mystification in all this. I merely pause
to state that I was keenly enjoying that very element. Nothing could
have been more typical of Raffles and the past. It was only my own
attitude that was changed.

It appeared that the mythical lady, my sister, had just become engaged
to Raffles, who seemed all anxiety to pin her down with gifts of
price. I could not quite gather whose gift to whom was the diamond
ring; but it had evidently been paid for; and I voyaged to the moon,
wondering when and how. I was recalled to this planet by a deluge of
gems from the jeweller's bag. They lay alight in their cases like the
electric lamps above. We all three put our heads together over them,
myself without the slightest clew as to what was coming, but not
unprepared for violent crime. One does not do eighteen months for
nothing.

"Right away," Raffles was saying. "We'll choose for her, and you'll
change anything she don't like. Is that the idea?"

"That was my suggestion, sir."

"Then come on, Ezra. I guess you know Sadie's taste. You help me
choose."

And we chose--lord! What did we not choose? There was her ring, a
diamond half-hoop. It cost L95, and there was no attempt to get it for
L90. Then there was a diamond necklet--two hundred guineas, but
pounds accepted. That was to be the gift of the bridegroom. The
wedding was evidently imminent. It behooved me to play a brotherly
part. I therefore rose to the occasion; calculated she would like a
diamond star (L116), but reckoned it was more than I could afford; and
sustained a vicious kick under the table for either verb. I was afraid
to open my mouth on finally obtaining the star for the round hundred.
And then the fat fell in the fire; for pay we could not; though a
remittance (said Raffles) was "overdo from Noo York."

"But I don't know you, gentlemen," the jeweller exclaimed. "I haven't
even the name of your hotel!"

"I told you we was stoppin' with friends," said Raffles, who was not
angry, though thwarted and crushed. "But that's right, sir! Oh, that's
dead right, and I'm the last man to ask you to take Quixotic risks.
I'm tryin' to figure a way out. Yes, SIR, that's what I'm tryin' to
do."

"I wish you could, sir," the jeweller said, with feeling. "It isn't as
if we hadn't seen the color of your money. But certain rules I'm
swo