Right Ho, Jeeves

“What? Oh, very hearty congratulations.” “Thanks. Yes, I worked on him like a beaver after I got back this afternoon, and finally, vowing he would ne’er consent, he consented. He stays on, praises be, and the way I look at it now is that God’s in His heaven and all’s right with----” She broke off. The door had opened, and we were plus a butler. “Hullo, Seppings,” said Aunt Dahlia. “I thought you had gone.” “Not yet, madam.” “Well, I hope you will all have a good time.” “Thank you, madam.” “Was there something you wanted to see me about?” “Yes, madam. It is with reference to Monsieur Anatole. Is it by your wish, madam, that Mr. Fink-Nottle is making faces at Monsieur Anatole through the skylight of his bedroom?” -20- There was one of those long silences. Pregnant, I believe, is what they’re generally called. Aunt looked at butler. Butler looked at aunt. I looked at both of them. An eerie stillness seemed to envelop the room like a linseed poultice. I happened to be biting on a slice of apple in my fruit salad at the moment, and it sounded as if Carnera had jumped off the top of the Eiffel Tower on to a cucumber frame. Aunt Dahlia steadied herself against the sideboard, and spoke in a low, husky voice: “Faces?” “Yes, madam.” “Through the skylight?” “Yes, madam.” “You mean he’s sitting on the roof?” “Yes, madam. It has upset Monsieur Anatole very much.” I suppose it was that word “upset” that touched Aunt Dahlia off. Experience had taught her what happened when Anatole got upset. I had always known her as a woman who was quite active on her pins, but I had never suspected her of being capable of the magnificent burst of speed which she now showed. Pausing merely to get a rich hunting-field expletive off her chest, she was out of the room and making for the stairs before I could swallow a sliver of--I think--banana. And feeling, as I had felt when I got that telegram of hers about Angela and Tuppy, that my place was by her side, I put down my plate and hastened after her, Seppings following at a loping gallop.