Not since last night, sir." " Oh, he saw him last night, did he ? Which way was he headed ? " " I rather fancy it was Mr. Wooster's intentionto pass the night in the Dower House and return to London today." " The Dower House ? That's that place across the park ? " " Yes, sir." " I might look in there. It seems to me the first thing I've got to do is have a talk with Mr. Wooster." " Yes, sir." I heard him go out through the French window, but it wasn't till another moment or two had passed that I felt justified in coming to the surface. It being reasonable to suppose by then that the coast was clear, I poked the head up over the desk. " Jeeves," I said, and if there were tears in the eyes, what of it ? We Woosters are not afraid to confess honest emotion, " there is none like you, none."
" It is extremely kind of you to say so, sir." " It was all I could do to keep from leaping out and shaking your hand." " It would scarcely have been judicious, in the circumstances, sir." " That's what I thought. Your father wasn't a snake-charmer, was he, Jeeves ? " " No, sir." " It just crossed my mind. What do you think will happen when old Stoker gets to the Dower House ? " " We can only conjecture, sir." " My fear is that Brinkley may have slept it off by now." " There is that possibility, sir." "" Still, it was a kindly thought, sending the fellow there, and we must hope for the best. After all, Brinkley still has that chopper. I say, do you think Chuff y is really coming down ? " " At any moment, I fancy, sir." " Then you wouldn't advise my eating his breakfast ? " "No, sir." " But I'm starving, Jeeves." " I am extremely sorry, sir. The position at the moment is a little difficult. Later on, no doubt, I may be able to alleviate your distress." " Have you had breakfast, Jeeves ? " " Yes, sir." " What did you have ? " " The juice of an orange, sir, followed by Cute
Crispies--an American cereal-scrambled eggs with a slice of bacon, and toast and marmalade." " Oh, gosh I The whole washed down, no doubt, with a cup of strengthening coffee ? " " Yes, sir." " Oh, my God I You really don't think I could just sneak a single sausage ? " " I would scarcely advocate it, sir. And it is a small point, but his lordship is having kippers." " Kippers I " " And this, I fancy, will be his lordship coming now, sir." So down once more into the lower levels for Bertram. And I had hardly fitted myself into the groove when the door opened. A voice spoke. " Why, hallo, Jeeves." " Good morning, miss." It was Pauline Stoker. I must say I was a bit peeved. Chuffnell Hall, whatever its other defects, should, as I have pointed out, have been entirely free from Stokers. And here they were, absolutely overrunningthe place like mice. I was quite prepared to find something breathing in my ear and look round and see little Dwight. I mean to say, I was feeling-bitterly, I admit-that if this was going to be an Old Home Week of Stokers, one might as well make the thing complete. Pauline had begun to sniff vigorously. " What's that I smell, Jeeves ? "
" Kippered herrings, miss." " Whose ? " ' His lordship's, miss." " Oh. I haven't had breakfast yet, Jeeves." " No, miss ? " " No. Father yanked me out of bed and had me half-way here before I was properly awake. He's all worked up, Jeeves." " Yes, miss. I have just been having a conversation with Mr. Stoker. He did appear somewhat overwrought." " All the way here he was talking about what he was going to do if he ever found you again. And now you tell me he did find you. What happened ?
Didn't he eat you ? " "No, miss." " Probably on a diet. Well, where has he got to ? They told me he was in here." " Mr. Stoker left a moment ago with the intention of visiting the Dower House, miss. I think he hopes to find Mr. Wooster there." " Somebody ought to warn that poor sap." ' "
You need experience no anxiety for Mr. Wooster, miss. He is not at the Dower House." " Where is he ? " " Elsewhere, miss." " Not that I care where he is. Do you remember my telling you last night, Jeeves, that I was thinking of becoming Mrs. Bertram W. ?" " Yes, miss." "Well, I'm not. So you needn't save up for that fish slice, after all. I've changed my mind."
" I am glad to hear that, miss." So was I. Her words were music to my ears. " Glad, are you ? " " Yes, miss. I doubt whether the union would have been a successful one. Mr. Wooster is an agreeable young gentleman, but I would describe him as essentially one of Nature's bachelors." "
