English. Look at the hallmark.”
“I can’t see any hallmark.”
“Are you blind? Here, take it outside in the street. It’s lighter there.”
“Right,” I said, and started for the door, like a connoisseur a bit bored at having his time wasted. I had only taken a couple of steps when I tripped over[37] the cat, and shot out of the door like someone wanted by the police. The cow-creamer flew from my hands, and it was a lucky thing that I happened to barge into a fellow citizen outside. Well, not absolutely lucky, as a matter of fact, for it turned out to be Sir Watkyn Bassett. He stood there goggling at me with horror and indignation behind the pince-nez. First, bag-snatching; then umbrella-pinching; and now this. It was the last straw[38].
“Call a policeman, Roderick!” he cried.
The Dictator bawled: “Police!”
“Police!” yipped old Bassett, up in the tenor clef.
“Police!” roared the Dictator, taking the bass. And a moment later something large loomed up in the fog and said: “What’s all this?”
Well, I didn’t want to stick around and explain. I picked up the feet and was gone like the wind. A voice shouted “Stop!” but of course I didn’t. I legged it down byways and along side streets, and eventually fetched up somewhere in the neighbourhood of Sloane Square[39]. There I got aboard a cab and started back to civilization.
My original intention was to drive to the Drones and get a bite of lunch there, but I hadn’t gone far when I realized that I wasn’t equal to it. Changing my strategy, I told the man to take me to the nearest Turkish bath.
I returned to the flat late. It was, indeed, practically with a merry tra-la-la on my lips that I made for the sitting room. And the next I saw a pile of telegrams on the table.
Two
I had had the idea at first glance that there were about twenty of the telegrams, but a closer scrutiny revealed only three. They all bore the same signature. They ran as follows:
The first:
Wooster, Berkeley Mansions, Berkeley Square[40], London.
Come immediately. Serious rift Madeline and self[41]. Reply.
The second:
Surprised receive no answer my telegram saying Come immediately serious rift Madeline and self. Reply.
And the third:
I say, Bertie, why don’t you answer my telegrams? Sent you two today saying Come immediately serious rift Madeline and self. Unless you come earliest possible moment prepared lend every effort effect reconciliation[42], wedding will be broken off. Reply.
Something had whispered to me on seeing those envelopes that here we had a big trouble, and here we had.
The sound of the familiar footsteps had brought Jeeves. A glance was enough to tell him that all was not well with the employer.
“Are you ill, sir?” he enquired solicitously.
I sank into a chair.
“Not ill, Jeeves, but I am going to die. Read these.”
He read the telegrams.
“Most disturbing, sir.” His voice was grave. I could see that he hadn’t missed the gist. The sinister idea of those telegrams was as clear to him as it was to me. There was no need to explain to him why I now lighted a cigarette with a visible effort.
“What do you suppose has happened, Jeeves?”
“It is difficult to hazard a conjecture, sir.”
“The wedding may be scratched, he says. Why? That is what I ask myself. ”
“Yes, sir.”
“And I have no doubt that that is what you ask yourself?”
“Yes, sir.”
“A difficult case, Jeeves.”
“Extremely difficult, sir.”
“What shall I do, Jeeves?”
“I think it would be best to proceed to Totleigh Towers, sir.”
“But how can I? Old Bassett would drive me out the moment I arrived.”
“Possibly if you were to telegraph to Mr. Fink-Nottle, sir, explaining your difficulty, he might have some solution to suggest.”
This seemed reasonable. I hastened out to the post office, and wired as follows:
Fink-Nottle, Totleigh Towers,
Totleigh-in-the-Wold[43].
Yes, that’s all very well. You say come here immediately, but how can I? You don’t understand relations between Pop Bassett and myself. He would not say “welcome” to Bertram. What is to be done? What has happened? Why serious rift? What serious rift? How do you mean wedding broken off? What have you been doing to the girl? Reply.
The answer to this came during dinner:
Wooster, Berkeley Mansions, Berkeley Square, London.
See difficulty, but think can work it[44]. In spite strained relations, Madeline still speaking. Am telling her have received urgent letter from you pleading be allowed come here. Expect invitation shortly.
And in the morning, I received three telegrams. The first ran:
Have worked it. Invitation dispatched. When you come, will you bring book entitled My Friends The Newts by Loretta Peabody[45] published Popgood and Grooly[46].
The second:
Bertie, you old ass, I hear you are coming here. Delighted, as something very important want you do for me.
The third:
Please come here if you wish, but, oh Bertie, is this wise? Will not it cause you needless pain seeing me? Surely merely twisting knife wound
tripped over – споткнулся о
the last straw – последняя капля
Sloane Square – Слоун-сквер
Berkeley Square – Беркли-сквер
Serious rift Madeline and self. – Серьёзно поссорился с Медлин.
unless you come earliest possible moment prepared lend every effort effect reconciliation – если ты не прибудешь как можно раньше и не помиришь нас
Totleigh-in-the-Wold – Тотли-на-нагорье
think can work it – думаю, ты сможешь всё уладить
Loretta Peabody – Лоретта Пибоди
Popgood and Grooly – «Попгуд и Грули» (название издательства)
