my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a
hurricane, and my breath death!”
     “I have always understood,” said Bilbo in a frightened squeak, “that
dragons were softer underneath, especially in the region of
the-er-chest; but doubtless one so fortified has thought of that.”
     The dragon stopped short in his boasting. “Your information is
antiquated,” he snapped. “I am armoured above and below with iron
scales and hard gems. No blade can pierce me.”
     “I might have guessed it,” said Bilbo. “Truly there can; nowhere be
found the equal of Lord Smaug the Impenetrable. What magnificence to
possess a waistcoat of fine diamonds!”
     “Yes, it is rare and wonderful, indeed,” said Smaug absurdly pleased.
He did not know that the hobbit had already caught a glimpse of his
peculiar under-covering on his previous visit, and was itching for a
closer view for reasons of his own. The dragon rolled over. “Look!” he
said. “What do you say to that?”
     “Dazzlingly marvellous! Perfect! Flawless! Staggering!” exclaimed
Bilbo aloud, but what he thought inside was: “Old fool! Why there is a
large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of
its shell!” After he had seen that Mr. Baggins’ one idea was to get