Thank You, Jeeves

me, when I say that my emotion on hearing this was not a sober ecstasy at the thought that after all these long years somebody had at last been treating little Seabury's head as it ought to be treated, but a sickening dismay. I could see whither all this was tending. " Gosh, Jeeves I;) " Yes, sir." " And then ? " " The action then became, as it were, general, sir." " The old brigade lent a hand ? " " Yes, sir, the initiative being taken by Lady Chuff nell." I moaned. " It would be, Jeeves. Chuffy has often told me that her attitude towards Seabury resembles that of a tigress towards its cub. In Seabury's interests she has always been inclined to stamp qn the world's toes and give it the elbow. I Ibave heard Chuffy's voice absolutely quiver when describing the way in which, in the days before fee contrived to shoot them off to the Dower House and they were still living at the Hall, She always collared the best egg at breakfast and slipped it to the little one. But go on." " On witnessing the position of affairs, her 'tedyship uttered a sharp cry and struck Master J&wight with considerable force on the right ear." " Upon which, of course . . . ? "

" Precisely, sir. Mr. Stoker, espousing the cause of his son, aimed a powerful kick at Master Seabury." " And got him, Jeeves ? Tell me he got him." " Yes, sir. Master Seabury was rising at the moment, and his attitude was exceptionally well adapted for the receipt of such an attack. The next moment, a heated altercation had broken out between her ladyship and Mr. Stoker. Her ladyship called to Sir Roderick for support, and he-somewhat reluctantly, it appeared to me-proceeded to take Mr. Stoker to task for the assault. High words ensued, and the upshot of it was that Mr. Stoker with a good deal of warmth informed Sir Roderick that it he supposed that he, Mr. Stoker, intended to purchase Chuffnell Hall after what had occurred, he, Sir Roderick, was in grave error." I buried the head in the hands. " Upon this . . ." " Yes, get it over, Jeeves. I can see what's coming." " Yes, sir. I agree with you that the whole affair has something of the dark inevitability of Greek tragedy. Upon this, his lordship, who had been an agitated auditor, gave vent tp a startled exclamation and urged Mr. Stoker to disclaim these words. It was his lordship's view that Mr. Stoker, having given his promise to purchase Chuffnell Hall, could not, as an honourable man, recede from this obligation.

Upon Mr. Stoker replying that he did not care what he had promised or what he had not promised and continuing to asseverate that not a penny of his money should be expended in the direction indicated, his lordship, I regret to say, became somewhat unguarded in his speech." I moaned another bar or two. I knew what old Chuffy was capable of when his generous nature was stirred. I had heard him coaching his college boat at Oxford. " He ticked Stoker off ? " " With considerable vigour, sir. Stating in an extremely candid manner his opinion of the latter's character, commercial probity, and even appearance." " That must have put the lid on it." " It did appear to create a certain coldness, sir."

" And then ? " " That terminated the distressing scene, sir. Mr. Stoker returned to the yacht with Miss Stoker and Master Dwight. Sir Roderick has gone to secure accommodation for himself at the local inn. Lady Chuff nell is applying arnica to Master Seabury in his bedroom. His lordship, I believe, is taking the dog for a run in the west park." I mused. "When all this happened, had Chuffy told Stoker he wanted to marry Miss Stoker ? " F

" No, sir." " Well, I don't see how he can very well do it now." " I fancy the announcement would not be cordially received, sir." " They will have to meet by stealth." " Even that will be a little difficult, sir. I should have mentioned that I chanced to be an auditor of a conversation between Mr. and Miss Stoker, from the substance of which I gathered that it was the gentleman's intention to keep Miss Stoker virtually in durance vile on board the yacht, not permitting her to go ashore during the remainder of their enforced stay in the harbour." "

But you said he didn't know anything about the engagement." " Mr.

Stoker's motive in immuring Miss Stoker on the vessel is not to prevent her encountering his lordship, but to obviate any chance of her meeting you, sir. The fact that you embraced the young lady has convinced him that her affection for you has persisted since your parting in New York." " You're sure you really heard all this ? " " Yes, sir." " How did you come to do that ? " " I was conversing with his lordship at the moment on one side of a screen of bushes, when the conversation which I have described broke out on the other side. There was no alternative but to overhear Mr. Stoker's remarks."

I started visibly. " You were talking with Chuff y, did you say ? " "