Thank You, Jeeves

Quite sure, sir." " Well, then, what on earth is it all about ? He loves her. She loves him. So what's the snag ? In conversing with her just now, I advanced the theory that what was holding him back was delicacy, but I didn't really believe it. I know Chuffy. A swift performer, if ever there was one. If he didn't propose to a girl by the end of the first week, he

would think he was losing his grip. Yet now Hook at him. Missing on every cylinder. yby?" " His lordship is a gentleman of scruples, sir." "

How do you mean ? " " He feels that, being of straitened means himself, he has not the right to propose marriage to a young lady as wealthy as Miss Stoker." " But, dash it. Love laughs at ... no, it doesn't . . .

it's at locksmiths, isn't it ? " " At locksmiths, yes, sir." " Besides, she isn't as rich as all that. Just comfortably off, I should have said." " No, sir. Mr. Stoker's fortune amounts to as much as fifty million dollars." " What! You're talking through your hat, Jeeves." "

No, sir. I understand that that was the sum which he inherited recently under the will of the late Mr. George Stoker." ^ I was stunned. " Good Lord, Jeeves! Has Second Cousin George kicked the bucket ? " " Yes, sir." " And left all his money to old Stoker ? " "

Yes, sir." " Now I see. Now I understand-- This explains everything. I was wondering how he managed to be going about buying vast estates. That yacht in the harbour is his, of course ?" " Yes, sir."

" Well, well, well! But, dash it, George must have had nearer relations." " Yes, sir. I understand that he disliked them all." " You know about him, then ? " " Yes, sir. I saw a good deal of his personal attendant when we were in New York. A man named Benstead." " He was potty, wasn't he ? " " Certainly extremely eccentric, sir." " Any chance of one of those other relations contesting the will ? " " I do not imagine so, sir. But in such a case Mr. Stoker would rely on Sir Roderick Glossop, of course, to testify that the late Mr. Stoker, while possibly somewhat individual in his habits, was nevertheless perfectly sane. The testimony of so eminent a mental specialist as Sir Roderick would be unassailable." " You mean he'd say why shouldn't a fellow walk about on his hands, if he wants to ? Saves shoe leather, and so forth ?

" "Exactly, sir." " Then there's no chance of Miss Stoker ever being anything except the heiress of a bird with fifty million dollars shoved away behind the brick in the fire-place ? " " Virtually none, sir." I brooded on this. " H'm. And unless old Stoker buys the Hall, Chuffy will continue to be Kid Lazarus, tfae man without a bean. One spots the drama fc, ,of the situation. And yet, why, Jeeves ? Why |S |dl this fuss about money ? After all, plenty of it > bust blokes have married oofy girls before now," ^ " Yes, sir. But his lordship is a gentleman •><-.

of peculiar views on this particular matter." I mused. Yes, I reflected, it was quite true. 'f Chuffy is a fellow who has always been odd on •

the subject of money. It's something to do with the Pride of the Chuffhells, I suppose. I know that for years and years I have been trying to lend him of my plenty, but he has always steadfastly refused to put the bite on me. " It's difficult," I said. " One fails for the moment to see the way out. And yet you may be wrong, Jeeves. After all, you're only guessing." " No, sir. His lordship did me the honour to confide in me." " Really ? How did the subject come up ? " " Mr. Stoker had expressed a wish that I should enter his employment. He approached me in the matter. I informed his lordship. His lordship instructed me to hold out hopes." " You can't mean that he wants you to leave him and go to old Stoker ? " " No, sir. He specifically stated the reverse, v/ith a good deal of vehemence. But he was anxious that I should not break off the negotiations with a definite refusal until the sale of Cliuffnell Hall had gone through."

" I see. I follow his strategy. He wanted you to jolly old Stoker along and keep him sweetened till he had signed the fatal papers ? " "

Precisely, sir. It was this conversation that led up to his lordship revealing his personal position as concerns Miss Stoker. Until his financial status is sufficiently sound to justify him in doing so, his self-respect will not permit him to propose marriage to the young lady."