|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 65
26. Breaking The News
Dashing away from the call-box, Mike nearly cannoned into Psmith, who
was making his way pensively to the telephone with the object of
ringing up the box office of the Haymarket Theatre.
'Sorry,' said Mike. 'Hullo, Smith.'
'Hullo indeed,' said Psmith, courteously. 'I rejoice, Comrade Jackson,
to find you going about your commercial duties like a young bomb. How
is it, people repeatedly ask me, that Comrade Jackson contrives to
catch his employer's eye and win the friendly smile from the head of
his department? My reply is that where others walk, Comrade Jackson
runs. Where others stroll, Comrade Jackson legs it like a highly-trained
mustang of the prairie. He does not loiter. He gets back to his department
bathed in perspiration, in level time. He--'
'I say, Smith,' said Mike, 'you might do me a favour.'
'A thousand. Say on.'
'Just look in at the Fixed Deposits and tell old Gregory that I shan't
be with him today, will you? I haven't time myself. I must rush!'
Psmith screwed his eyeglass into his eye, and examined Mike carefully.
'What exactly--?' be began.
'Tell the old ass I've popped off.'
'Just so, just so,' murmured Psmith, as one who assents to a thoroughly
reasonable proposition. 'Tell him you have popped off. It shall be
done. But it is within the bounds of possibility that Comrade Gregory
may inquire further. Could you give me some inkling as to why you are
popping?'
'My brother Joe has just rung me up from Lords. The county are playing
Middlesex and they're one short. He wants me to roll up.'
Psmith shook his head sadly.
'I don't wish to interfere in any way,' he said, 'but I suppose you
realize that, by acting thus, you are to some extent knocking the
stuffing out of your chances of becoming manager of this bank? If you
dash off now, I shouldn't count too much on that marrying the
Governor's daughter scheme I sketched out for you last night. I doubt
whether this is going to help you to hold the gorgeous East in fee, and
all that sort of thing.'
'Oh, dash the gorgeous East.'
'By all means,' said Psmith obligingly. 'I just thought I'd mention it.
I'll look in at Lord's this afternoon. I shall send my card up to you,
and trust to your sympathetic cooperation to enable me to effect an
entry into the pavilion on my face. My father is coming up to London
today. I'll bring him along, too.'
'Right ho. Dash it, it's twenty to. So long. See you at Lord's.'
Psmith looked after his retreating form till it had vanished through
the swing-door, and shrugged his shoulders resignedly, as if
disclaiming all responsibility.
'He has gone without his hat,' he murmured. 'It seems to me that this
is practically a case of running amok. And now to break the news to
bereaved Comrade Gregory.'
He abandoned his intention of ringing up the Haymarket Theatre, and
turning away from the call-box, walked meditatively down the aisle till
he came to the Fixed Deposits Department, where the top of Mr Gregory's
head was to be seen over the glass barrier, as he applied himself to
his work.
Psmith, resting his elbows on the top of the barrier and holding his
head between his hands, eyed the absorbed toiler for a moment in
silence, then emitted a hollow groan.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|