Woof I " And there the matter rested, while he took in a supply of life-giving air. I remained silent. We Woosters do not intrude at such a time. Presently the puffing died away to a soft whiffle. He took about another minute and a half off. And, when he spoke, there was something so subdued, so what you might call quavering, about his voice that I came within a toucher of placing a kindly arm round his shoulder and telling him to cheer up. " No doubt you are wondering, Mr. Wooster, what is the explanation of all this ? " I still wasn't quite equal to the kindly arm, but I did bestow a sort of encouraging pat. "Not a bit," I said. "Not a bit. I know all. I am abreast of the whole situation. I heard what had happened at the Hall, and directly I saw you shoot out of that door I knew what must have occurred here. You were planning to spend the night in the Dower House, weren't you ? " " I was. If you have really been apprised of what took place at Chuffnell Hall, Mr. Wooster, you are aware that I am in the unfortunate position of , . ." "... being blacked out. I know. So am I." " You! " " Yes. It's a long story, and I couldn't tell you, anyway, because it's by way of being secret history, but you can take it from me that we are both in the same fix."
" But this is astonishing I " " You can'tgoback to your hotel, and I can't get up to London till we have taken the make-up off." " Good God I " "It seems to bringus very close together, what? " He breathed deeply.
" Mr. Wooster, we have had our differences in the past. The fault may have been mine. I cannot say. But in this crisis we must forget them and-er--" " Stick together ? " " Precisely." " We will," I said cordially. " Speaking for myself, I decided to let the dead past bury its dead when I heard that you had been giving little Seabury one or two on the spot indicated." I heard him snort. " You are aware what that abominable boy did to me, Mr. Wooster ? " " Rather. And what you did to him. I am thoroughly posted up to the time you left the Hall. What happened after that ? " "Almost immediately after I had done so, the realization of my terrible position came upon me." " Nasty jar, I imagine ? " " The shock was of the severest. I was at a complete loss.
The only course it seemed possible to pursue was to seek refuge somewherefor the night. And, knowing the Dower House to be unoccupied, I repaired thither." He shuddered. " Mr. Wooster, that house is- I speak in all seriousness-an Inferno."
He puffed awhile. " I am not alluding to the presence on the-premisesof what appeared to me to be a dangerous lunatic. I mean that the whole place is congested with living organisms. Mice, Mr. Wooster! And small dogs. And I think I saw a monkey." " Eh ? " " I remember now that Lady Chuff nell informedme that her son had started to maintain an establishment of these creatures, but at the moment it had slipped my mind, and the experience came upon me without warning or preparation." "
Of course, yes. Seabury breeds things. I remember him telling me. And you were snootered by the menagerie ? " He stirred in the darkness. I fancy he was mopping the b. " Shall I tell you of my experiences beneath that roof, Mr. Wooster ? " " Do," I said cordially. " We have the night before us." He handkerchief ed the brow once more. " It was a nightmare.
I had scarcely entered the place when a voice addressed me from a dark corner of the kitchen, which was the room in which I first found myself.
* I see you, you old muddler,' was the phrase it employed." " Dashed familiar." " I need scarcely tell you what consternation it occasioned me. I bit my tongue severely. Then, divining that the speaker was merely a
