will
unhesitatingly admit, by this time, that the Page affair presented many
remarkable aspects.

There was one discordant element in such a theory, however: namely, how
could Fluette hope to retain possession of the gem, once he had secured
it? How could he defend his title to it? Although the stone was
immensely valuable, any person save the rightful owner would have an
exceedingly difficult time disposing of it.

But this objection was in turn offset by the possibility that Page,
although he had purchased the ruby openly, _had actually acquired no
just title to it_. I admit, considering that Felix Page was never the
sort of man to buy a pig in a poke, that the possibility was rather
far-fetched; still, it was a possibility, and a very pregnant one, too.
For if such were the case, Burke might have obtained, in some underhand
manner, authority to dispose of it.

And this brought me to the, as yet, unaccounted-for Japanese--I call
them such for lack of a more definite characterization. How otherwise
was their obscure connection with the case to be explained? Why, the
very word "ruby" instantly calls up a picture of the East. How often
have priceless gems been filched from Oriental potentates! How often
have mysterious murders been committed to recover some jewel stolen
from an Eastern temple, the murderer driven forth by religious zeal--or
fanaticism, call it what you will--to a relentless search for the
fetich, and to wreak a dire vengeance on the plunderer! Admitting that
the present intricate problem involved a similar instance, I could not
see how the fact might tend to aid me any.

After supper, which was brought in to us, Stodger and I divided the
night into two watches--I taking the first until two o'clock in the
morning, and he assuming responsibility from that time on until he
chose to awaken me.

I arranged the two watches thus because I imagined that if an attempt
should be made to enter the house during the night, it would occur at
some time near the hour mentioned when both of us would more than
likely be awake. My guess, you will see, was a poor one.

I also wanted to devote the fore part of the night, when my brain is
always clearest, to an exhaustive study of the cipher found by
Genevieve in the jewel-box. Until Stodger was ready to retire I could
concentrate my whole mind upon it, I told myself, without fear of being
disturbed. After my companion turned in I would have to remain alert,