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Page 77
'An unpleasant task lies before us,' began Psmith in a low, sorrowful
voice, 'and it must not be shirked. Have I your ear, Mr Bickersdyke?'
Addressed thus directly, the manager allowed his gaze to wander from
the ceiling. He eyed Psmith for a moment like an elderly basilisk, then
looked back at the ceiling again.
'I shall speak to you tomorrow,' he said.
Psmith heaved a heavy sigh.
'You will not see us tomorrow,' he said, pushing the brandy a little
nearer.
Mr Bickersdyke's eyes left the ceiling once more.
'What do you mean?' he said.
'Drink this,' urged Psmith sympathetically, holding out the glass. 'Be
brave,' he went on rapidly. 'Time softens the harshest blows. Shocks
stun us for the moment, but we recover. Little by little we come to
ourselves again. Life, which we had thought could hold no more pleasure
for us, gradually shows itself not wholly grey.'
Mr Bickersdyke seemed about to make an observation at this point, but
Psmith, with a wave of the hand, hurried on.
'We find that the sun still shines, the birds still sing. Things which
used to entertain us resume their attraction. Gradually we emerge from
the soup, and begin--'
'If you have anything to say to me,' said the manager, 'I should be
glad if you would say it, and go.'
'You prefer me not to break the bad news gently?' said Psmith. 'Perhaps
you are wise. In a word, then,'--he picked up the brandy and held it
out to him--'Comrade Jackson and myself are leaving the bank.'
'I am aware of that,' said Mr Bickersdyke drily.
Psmith put down the glass.
'You have been told already?' he said. 'That accounts for your calm.
The shock has expended its force on you, and can do no more. You are
stunned. I am sorry, but it had to be. You will say that it is madness
for us to offer our resignations, that our grip on the work of the bank
made a prosperous career in Commerce certain for us. It may be so. But
somehow we feel that our talents lie elsewhere. To Comrade Jackson the
management of the Psmith estates seems the job on which he can get the
rapid half-Nelson. For my own part, I feel that my long suit is the
Bar. I am a poor, unready speaker, but I intend to acquire a knowledge
of the Law which shall outweigh this defect. Before leaving you, I
should like to say--I may speak for you as well as myself, Comrade
Jackson--?'
Mike uttered his first contribution to the conversation--a gurgle--and
relapsed into silence again.
'I should like to say,' continued Psmith, 'how much Comrade Jackson and
I have enjoyed our stay in the bank. The insight it has given us into
your masterly handling of the intricate mechanism of the office has
been a treat we would not have missed. But our place is elsewhere.'
He rose. Mike followed his example with alacrity. It occurred to Mr
Bickersdyke, as they turned to go, that he had not yet been able to get
in a word about their dismissal. They were drifting away with all the
honours of war.
'Come back,' he cried.
Psmith paused and shook his head sadly.
'This is unmanly, Comrade Bickersdyke,' he said. 'I had not expected
this. That you should be dazed by the shock was natural. But that you
should beg us to reconsider our resolve and return to the bank is
unworthy of you. Be a man. Bite the bullet. The first keen pang will
pass. Time will soften the feeling of bereavement. You must be brave.
Come, Comrade Jackson.'
Mike responded to the call without hesitation.
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