按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃rade Jackson；〃 said Psmith； rising； 〃we must be in this。〃
When they arrived on the scene of hostilities； the young man had just possessed himself of the walking…stick； and was deep in a plex argument with the head…waiter on the ethics of the matter。 The head…waiter； a stout impassive German； had taken his stand on a point of etiquette。 〃Id is；〃 he said； 〃to bring gats into der grill…room vorbidden。 No gendleman would gats into der grill…room bring。 Der gendleman〃
The young man meanwhile was making enticing sounds； to which the cat was maintaining an attitude of reserved hostility。 He turned furiously on the head…waiter。
〃For goodness' sake；〃 he cried； 〃can't you see the poor brute's scared stiff？ Why don't you clear your gang of German edians away； and give her a chance to e down？〃
〃Der gendleman〃 argued the head…waiter。
Psmith stepped forward and touched him on the arm。
〃May I have a word with you in private？〃
〃Zo？〃
Psmith drew him away。
〃You don't know who that is？〃 he whispered； nodding towards the young man。
〃No gendleman he is；〃 asserted the head…waiter。 〃Der gendleman would not der gat into〃
Psmith shook his head pityingly。
〃These petty matters of etiquette are not for his Gracebut； hush； he wishes to preserve his incognito。〃
〃Ingognito？〃
〃You understand。 You are a man of the world； rademay I call you Freddie？ You understand； rade Freddie； that in a man in his Grace's position a few little eccentricities may be pardoned。 You follow me； Frederick？〃
The head…waiter's eye rested upon the young man with a new interest and respect。
〃He is noble？〃 he inquired with awe。
〃He is here strictly incognito； you understand；〃 said Psmith warningly。 The head…waiter nodded。
The young man meanwhile had broken down the cat's reserve； and was now standing with her in his arms； apparently anxious to fight all…corners in her defence。 The head…waiter approached deferentially。
〃Der gendleman；〃 he said； indicating Psmith； who beamed in a friendly manner through his eye…glass； 〃haf everything exblained。 All will now quite satisfactory be。〃
The young man looked inquiringly at Psmith； who winked encouragingly。 The head…waiter bowed。
〃Let me present rade Jackson；〃 said Psmith； 〃the pet of our English Smart Set。 I am Psmith； one of the Shropshire Psmiths。 This is a great moment。 Shall we be moving back？ We were about to order a second instalment of coffee； to correct the effects of a fatiguing day。 Perhaps you would care to join us？〃
〃Sure；〃 said the alleged duke。
〃This；〃 said Psmith； when they were seated； and the head…waiter had ceased to hover； 〃is a great meeting。 I was plaining with some acerbity to rade Jackson； before you introduced your very interesting performing…animal speciality； that things in New York were too quiet； too decorous。 I have an inkling； rade〃
〃Windsor's my name。〃
〃I have an inkling； rade Windsor； that we see eye to eye on the subject。〃
〃I guess that's right。 I was raised in the plains； and I lived in Kentucky a while。 There's more doing there in a day than there is here in a month。 Say； how did you fix it with the old man？〃
〃With rade Freddie？ I have a certain amount of influence with him。 He is content to order his movements in the main by my judgment。 I assured him that all would be well； and he yielded。〃 Psmith gazed with interest at the cat； which was lapping milk from the saucer。 〃Are you training that animal for a show of some kind； rade Windsor； or is it a domestic pet？〃
〃I've adopted her。 The office…boy on our paper got her away from a dog this morning； and gave her to me。〃
〃Your paper？〃
〃Cosy Moments；〃 said Billy Windsor； with a touch of shame。
〃Cosy Moments？〃 said Psmith reflectively。 〃I regret that the bright little sheet has not e my way up to the present。 I must seize an early opportunity of perusing it。〃
〃Don't you do it。〃
〃You've no paternal pride in the little journal？〃
〃It's bad enough to hurt；〃 said Billy Windsor disgustedly。 〃If you really want to see it； e along with me to my place； and I'll show you a copy。〃
〃It will be a pleasure；〃 said Psmith。 〃rade Jackson； have you any previous engagement for to…night？〃
〃I'm not doing anything；〃 said Mike。
〃Then let us stagger forth with rade Windsor。 While he is loading up that basket； we will be collecting our hats。 。 。 。 I am not half sure； rade Jackson；〃 he added； as they walked out； 〃that rade Windsor may not prove to be the genial spirit for whom I have been searching。 If you could give me your undivided pany； I should ask no more。 But with you constantly away； mingling with the gay throng； it is imperative that I have some solid man to acpany me in my ramblings hither and thither。 It is possible that rade Windsor may possess the qualifications necessary for the post。 But here he es。 Let us foregather with him and observe him in private life before arriving at any premature decision。〃
CHAPTER IV
BAT JARVIS
Billy Windsor lived in a single room on East Fourteenth Street。 Space in New York is valuable； and the average bachelor's apartments consist of one room with a bathroom opening off it。 During the daytime this one room loses all traces of being used for sleeping purposes at night。 Billy Windsor's room was very much like a public…school study。 Along one wall ran a settee。 At night this became a bed； but in the daytime it was a settee and nothing but a settee。 There was no space for a great deal of furniture。 There was one rocking…chair； two ordinary chairs； a table； a book…stand； a typewriternobody uses pens in New Yorkand on the walls a mixed collection of photographs； drawings； knives； and skins； relics of their owner's prairie days。 Over the door was the head of a young bear。
Billy's first act on arriving in this sanctum was to release the cat； which； having moved restlessly about for some moments； finally came to the conclusion that there was no means of getting out； and settled itself on a corner of the settee。 Psmith； sinking gracefully down beside it； stretched out his legs and lit a cigarette。 Mike took one of the ordinary chairs； and Billy Windsor； planting himself in the rocker； began to rock rhythmically to and fro； a performance which he kept up untiringly all the time。
〃A peaceful scene；〃 observed Psmith。 〃Three great minds； keen； alert； restless during business hours； relax。 All is calm and pleasant chit…chat。 You have snug quarters up here； rade Windsor。 I hold that there is nothing like one's own roof…tree。 It is a great treat to one who； like myself； is located in one of these vast caravanseraito be exact； the Astorto pass a few moments in the quiet privacy of an apartment such as this。〃
〃It's beastly expensive at the Astor；〃 said Mike。
〃The place has that drawback also。 Anon； rade Jackson； I think we will hunt around for some such cubby…hoIe as this； built for two。 Our nervous systems must be conserved。〃
〃On Fourth Avenue；〃 said Billy Windsor； 〃you can get quite good flats very cheap。 Furnished； too。 You should move there。 It's not much of a neighbourhood。 I don't know if you mind that？〃
〃Far from it； rade Windsor。 It is my aim to see New York in all its phases。 If a certain amount of harmless revelry