pgw.psmith,journalist-第32章
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he members of the Three Points。 Add to that the fact that we are united by a sympathetic knowledge of the manners and customs of cats； and especially that rade Jackson； England's greatest fancier； is our mutual friend； and what more do we want？ Nothing。〃
〃Mr。 Jackson's to de good；〃 assented Mr。 Jarvis； eyeing Mike in friendly fashion。
〃We are all to de good；〃 said Psmith。 〃Now the thing I wished to ask you is this。 The office of the paper on which I work was until this morning securely guarded by rade Brady； whose name will be familiar to you。〃
〃De Kid？〃
〃On the bull's…eye； as usual； rade Jarvis。 Kid Brady； the ing light…weight champion of the world。 Well； he has unfortunately been pelled to leave us； and the way into the office is consequently clear to any sand…bag specialist who cares to wander in。 Matters connected with the paper have bee so poignant during the last few days that an inrush of these same specialists is almost a certainty； unlessand this is where you e in。〃
〃Me？〃
〃Will you take rade Brady's place for a few days？〃
〃How's that？〃
〃Will you e in and sit in the office for the next day or so and help hold the fort？ I may mention that there is money attached to the job。 We will pay for your services。 How do we go； rade Jarvis？〃
Mr。 Jarvis reflected but a brief moment。
〃Why； sure；〃 he said。 〃Me fer dat。 When do I start？〃
〃Excellent； rade Jarvis。 Nothing could be better。 I am obliged。 I rather fancy that the gay band of Three Pointers who will undoubtedly visit the offices of Cosy Moments in the next few days； probably to…morrow； are due to run up against the surprise of their lives。 Could you be there at ten to…morrow morning？〃
Sure t'ing。 I'll bring me canister。〃
〃I should；〃 said Psmith。 〃In certain circumstances one canister is worth a flood of rhetoric。 Till to…morrow； then； rade Jarvis。 I am very much obliged to you。〃
〃Not at all a bad hour's work；〃 said Psmith placently； as they turned out of Groome Street。 〃A vote of thanks to you； rade Jackson； for your invaluable assistance。〃
〃It strikes me I didn't do much；〃 said Mike with a grin。
〃Apparently； no。 In reality； yes。 Your manner was exactly right。 Reserved； yet not haughty。 Just what an eminent cat…fancier's manner should be。 I could see that you made a pronounced hit with rade Jarvis。 By the way； if you are going to show up at the office to…morrow； perhaps it would be as well if you were to look up a few facts bearing on the feline world。 There is no knowing what thirst for information a night's rest may not give rade Jarvis。 I do not presume to dictate； but if you were to make yourself a thorough master of the subject of catnip； for instance； it might quite possibly e in useful。〃
CHAPTER XXV
TRAPPED
MR。 JARVIS was as good as his word。 On the following morning； at ten o'clock to the minute； he made his appearance at the office of Cosy Moments； his fore…lock more than usually well oiled in honour of the occasion； and his right coat…pocket bulging in a manner that betrayed to the initiated eye the presence of the faithful 〃canister。〃 With him； in addition to his revolver； he brought a long； thin young man who wore under his brown tweed coat a blue…and…red striped jersey。 Whether he brought him as an ally in case of need or merely as a kindred soul with whom he might mune during his vigil； was not ascertained。
Pugsy； startled out of his wonted calm by the arrival of this distinguished pany； observed the pair； as they passed through into the inner office； with protruding eyes； and sat speechless for a full five minutes。 Psmith received the new…corners in the editorial sanctum with courteous warmth。 Mr。 Jarvis introduced his colleague。
〃Thought I'd bring him along。 Long Otto's his monaker。〃
〃You did very rightly； rade Jarvis；〃 Psmith assured him。 〃Your unerring instinct did not play you false when it told you that rade Otto would be as wele as the flowers in May。 With rade Otto I fancy we shall make a bination which will require a certain amount of tackling。〃
Mr。 Jarvis confirmed this view。 Long Otto； he affirmed； was no rube； but a scrapper from Biffville on…the…Slosh。 The hardiest hooligan would shrink from introducing rough…house proceedings into a room graced by the bined presence of Long Otto and himself。
〃Then；〃 said Psmith； 〃I can go about my professional duties with a light heart。 I may possibly sing a bar or two。 You will find cigars in that box。 If you and rade Otto will select one apiece and group yourselves tastefully about the room in chairs； I will start in to hit up a slightly spicy editorial on the ing election。〃
Mr。 Jarvis regarded the paraphernalia of literature on the table with interest。 So did Long Otto； who； however； being a man of silent habit； made no ment。 Throughout the seance and the events which followed it he confined himself to an occasional grunt。 He seemed to lack other modes of expression。 A charming chap； however。
〃Is dis where youse writes up pieces fer de paper？〃 inquired Mr。 Jarvis； eyeing the table。
〃It is；〃 said Psmith。 〃In rade Windsor's pre…dungeon days he was wont to sit where I am sitting now； while I bivouacked over there at the smaller table。 On busy mornings you could hear our brains buzzing in Madison Square Garden。 But wait！ A thought strikes me。〃 He called for Pugsy。
〃rade Maloney；〃 he said； 〃if the Editorial Staff of this paper were to give you a day off； could you employ it to profit？〃
〃Surest t'ing you know；〃 replied Pugsy with some fervour。 〃I'd take me goil to de Bronx Zoo。〃
〃Your girl？〃 said Psmith inquiringly。 〃I had heard no inkling of this； rade Maloney。 I had always imagined you one of those strong； rugged； blood…and…iron men who were above the softer emotions。 Who is she？〃
〃Aw； she's a kid；〃 said Pugsy。 〃Her pa runs a delicatessen shop down our street。 She ain't a bad mutt；〃 added the ardent swain。 〃I'm her steady。〃
〃See that I have a card for the wedding； rade Maloney；〃 said Psmith； 〃and in the meantime take her to the Bronx； as you suggest。〃
〃Won't youse be wantin' me to…day。〃
〃Not to…day。 You need a holiday。 Unflagging toil is sapping your physique。 Go up and watch the animals； and remember me very kindly to the Peruvian Llama； whom friends have sometimes told me I resemble in appearance。 And if two dollars would in any way add to the gaiety of the jaunt 。 。 。〃
〃Sure t'ing。 T'anks； boss。〃
〃It occurred to me；〃 said Psmith； when he had gone； 〃that the probable first move of any enterprising Three Pointer who invaded this office would be to knock rade Maloney on the head to prevent his announcing him。 rade Maloney's services are too valuable to allow him to be exposed to unnecessary perils。 Any visitors who call must find their way in for themselves。 And now to work。 Work； the what's…its…name of the thingummy and the thing…um…a…bob of the what d'you…call…it。〃
For about a quarter of an hour the only sound that broke the silence of the room was the scratching of Psmith's pen and the musical expectoration of Messrs。 Otto and Jarvis。 Finally Psmith leaned back in his chair with a satisfied expression； and spoke。
〃While； as of course you know； rade Jarvis；〃 he said； 〃there is no agony like the agony of literary position； such toil has its pensations。 The editorial I have just pleted contains its measure of balm。 rade Otto will bear me out in my statement that there is a subtle joy in the manufacture of the well…formed phrase。 Am I not right； rade Otto？〃
The long one gazed appealingly at Mr。 Jarvis； who spoke for him。
〃He's a bit shy on handin' out woids； is Otto；〃 he said。
Psmith nodded。
〃I understand。 I am a man of few words myself。 All great men are like that。 Von Moltke； rade Otto； and myself。 But what are words？ Action is the thing。 That is the cry。 Action。 If that is rade Otto's forte； so much the better； for I fancy that action rather than words is what we may be needing in the space of about a quarter of a minute。 At least； if the footsteps I hear without are； as I suspect； those of our friends of the Three Points。〃
Jarvis and Long Otto turned towards the door。 Psmith was right。 Some one was moving stealthily in the outer office。 Judging from the sound； more than one person。
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