The inimitable Jeeves

you, what? Mrs Little all right?’
    ‘My wife is happily robust. But - er - not Mrs Little. Since we last met a gracious Sovereign has been pleased to bestow on me a signal mark of his favour in the shape of - ah - a peerage. On the publication of the last Honours List I became Lord Bittlesham.’
    ‘By Jove! Really? I say, heartiest congratulations. That’s the stuff to give the troops, what? Lord Bittlesham?’ I said. ‘Why, you’re the owner of Ocean Breeze.’
    ‘Yes. Marriage has enlarged my horizon in many directions. My wife is interested in horse-racing, and I now maintain a small stable. I understand that Ocean Breeze is fancied, as I am told the expression is, for a race which will take place at the end of the month at Goodwood, the Duke of Richmond’s seat in Sussex.’
    ‘The Goodwood Cup. Rather! I’ve got my chemise on it for one.’
    ‘Indeed? Well, I trust the animal will justify your confidence. I know littie of tiiese matters myself, but my wife tells me that it is regarded in knowledgeable circles as what I believe is termed a snip.’
    At this moment I suddenly noticed that the audience was gazing in our direction with a good deal of interest, and I saw that the bearded chappie was pointing at us.
    ‘Yes, look at them! Drink them in!’ he was yelling, his voice rising above the perpetual-motion fellow’s and beating the missionary service all to nodiing. ‘There you see two typical members of the class which has down-trodden the poor for centuries. Idlers! Non-producers! Look at the tall thin one widi the face like a motor-mascot. Has he ever done an honest day’s work in his life? No! A prowler, a trifler, and a blood-sucker! And I bet he still owes his tailor for diose trousers!’
    He seemed to me to be verging on the personal, and I didn’t diink a lot of it. Old Bittlesham, on the other hand, was pleased and amused.
    ‘A great gift of expression these fellows have,’ he chuckled. ‘Very trenchant.’
    ‘And the fat one!’ proceeded the chappie. ‘Don’t miss him. Do you know who that is? That’s Lord Bittlesham! One of the worst. What has he ever done except eat four square meals a day? His god is his belly, and he sacrifices burnt-offerings to it. If you opened that man now you would find enough lunch to support ten working-class families for a week.’
    ‘You know, thal’s rather well put,’ I said, but the old boy didn’t seem to see it. He had turned a brightish magenta and was bubbling like a kettle on the boil.
    ‘Come away, Mr Wooster,’ he said. ‘I am the last man to oppose the right of free speech, but I refuse to listen to diis vulgar abuse any longer.’
    We legged it widi quiet dignity, the chappie pursuing us with his foul innuendoes to the last. Dashed embarrassing.

    Next day I looked in at the club, and found, young Bingo in the smoking-room.
    ‘Hallo, Bingo,’ I said, toddling over to his corner full of bonhomie, for I was glad to see the chump. ‘How’s the boy?’
    ‘Jogging along.’
    ‘I saw your uncle yesterday.’
    Young Bingo unleashed a grin that split his face in half.
    ‘I know you did, you trifler. Well, sit down, old tiling, and suck a bit of blood. How’s the prowling these days?’
    ‘Good Lord! You weren’t there!’
    ‘Yes, I was.’
    ‘I didn’t see you.’
    ‘Yes, you did. But perhaps you didn’t recognize me in the shrubbery.’
    ‘The shrubbery?’
    ‘The beard, my boy. Worth every penny I paid for it. Defies detection. Of course, it’s a nuisance having people shouting “Beaver!” at you all the time, but one’s got to put up with that.’
    I goggled at him.
    ‘I don’t understand.’
    ‘It’s a long story. Have a martini or a small gore-and-soda, and I’ll tell you all about it. Before we start, give me your honest opinion. Isn’t she the most wonderful girl you ever saw in your puff?’
    He had produced a photograph from somewhere, like a conjurer taking a rabbit out of a hat, and was waving it in front of me. It appeared to be a female of sorts, all eyes and teeth.
    ‘Oh, Great Scott!’ I said. ‘Don’t tell me you’re in love again.’
    He seemed aggrieved.
    ‘What do you mean - again?’
    ‘Well, to my certain knowledge you’ve been in love with at least half a dozen girls since the spring, and it’s only July now. There was that waitress and Honoria Glossop and -‘
    ‘Oh, tush! Not to say pish! Those girls? Mere passing fancies. This is the real thing.’
    ‘Where did you meet