Thank You, Jeeves

" Silly ass I " " I would not have ventured to employ preciselythat term myself, sir, but I confess that I regard his lordship's attitude as somewhat hyper-quixotic." " We must talk him out of it." " Impossible, sir, I fear. I endeavoured to do so myself, but my arguments were of no avail. His lordship has a complex." " A what ? " " A complex, sir. It seems that he once witnessed a musical comedy, in which one of the dramatis personae was a certain impecunious peer. Lord Wotwotleigh, who was endeavouring to marry an American heiress, and this individualappears to have made a lasting impression on his mind. He stated to me in the most unequivocal terms that he refused to place himselfin a position where comparisons might be instituted." " But suppose the sale of the house does not go through ? "

" In that case, I fear, sir . . ." " The damask cheek will continue to do businessat the old stand indefinitely ? " "Exactly, sir." " You really are sure it is ' damask ' ? " " Yes, sir." " But it doesn't seem to mean anything." " An archaic adjective, sir. I fancy it is intended to signify a healthy complexion." " Well, Chuffy's got that." , " Yes, sir." " But what good's a healthy complexion if you don't get the girl ?

" " Very true, sir." " What would you advise, Jeeves ? " " I fear I have nothing to suggest at the moment, sir." " Come, come, Jeeves." " No, sir. The difficulty being essentially a psychological one, I find myself somewhat baffled. As long as the image of Lord Wotwotleigh persists in his lordship's consciousness, I fear that there is nothing to be done."

" Of course there is. Why this strange weakness, Jeeves ? It is not like you. Obviously,the fellow must be shoved over the brink." " I do not quite follow you, sir." " Of course you do. The thing's perfectly dear.

Here's old Chuffy, for the nonce just hanging dumbly round the girl.

What he needs

is a jolt. If he thought there was grave danger of some other bloke scooping her up, wouldn't that make him forget these dashed silly ideas of his and charge in, breathing fire through the nostrils ? " " Jealousy is undoubtedly an extremely powerful motivating force, sir." " Do you know what I am going to do, Jeeves ? " " No, sir." " I am going to kiss Miss Stoker and take care that Chuffy sees me do it." " Really, sir, I should not advocate ..." " Peace, Jeeves. I have got the whole thing taped out. It came to me in a flash, as we were talking. After lunch, I shall draw Miss Stoker aside to this seat. You will arrange that Chuffy follows her. Waiting till I see the whites of his eyes, I shall fold her in a close embrace. If that doesn't work, nothing will." " I consider that you would be taking a decided risk, sir. His lordship is in a highly emotional condition." " Well, a Wooster can put up with a punch in the eye for the sake of a pal. No, Jeeves, I desire no further discussion. The thing is settled. All that remains is to fix the times.

I suppose lunch would be over by about two-thirty. . . . Incidentally, I'm not going in to lunch myself." " No, sir ? "

" No. I cannot face that gang. I shall ^' remain out here. Bring me some sandwiches / ^»d a half-hot of the best." " Very good, sir." I, "And, by the way, the French windows of '^e dining-room will be open in weather like Hhis. Sneak near them from time to time Mooring lunch and bend an ear. Something of y Importance might be said." ||f|^ " Very good, sir."

' ^ " Put plenty of mustard on the sandwiches." " Very good, sir." "

And at two-thirty inform Miss Stoker that I would like a word with her.

And at two-tfairty-one inform Lord Chuffnell that she would Uke a word with him. The rest you can leave »0 me." " Very good, sir."

CHAPTER VI COMPLICATIONS SET IN

THERE was a fairly longish interval beforeJeeves returned with the foodstuffs.I threw myself on them with some abandon. " You've been the dickens of a time." " I followed your instructions, sir, and listened at the dining-room window." " Oh ? With what result ? " " I was not able to hear anything that gave an indication of Mr. Stoker's views regarding the purchase of the house, but he appeared in affable mood." " That's promising. Full of sparkle, eh ? " " Yes, sir. He was inviting all those present to a party on his yacht." " He's staying on here, then ? " " For some little time, I gathered, sir. Apparentlysomething has gone wrong with the propeller of the vessel." " He probably gave it one of his looks. And this party ? " " It appears that it is Master Dwight Stoker's birthday to-morrow, sir. The party, I gathered, was to be in celebration of the event." And was the suggestion well received ? " Extremely, sir.

Though Master Seabury ired to experience a certain chagrin at ;r Dwight's somewhat arrogant assertion he betted this was the first time that Seabury had ever so much as smelled a

What did he say ? " He retorted that he had been on millions yachts.