If I ever breakfasted at half past eight I should walk on the Embankment, trying to end it all in a watery grave.     

       'I am extremely worried, Bertie. That is why I have come to you.'     

       And then I saw she was going to start something, and I bleated weakly to Jeeves to bring me tea. But she had begun before I could get it.     

       'What are your immediate plans, Bertie?'     

       'Well, I rather thought of tottering out for a bite of lunch later on, and       then possibly staggering round to the club, and after that, if I felt strong enough, I might trickle off to Walton Heath for a round of golf.'     

       I am not interested in your totterings and tricklings. I mean, have you any important engagements in the next week or so?'     

       I scented danger.     

       'Rather,' I said. 'Heaps! Millions! Booked solid!'     

       'What are they?'     

       'I—er—well, I don't quite know.'     

       'I thought as much. You have no engagements. Very well, then, I want you to start immediately for America.'     

       'America!'     

       Do not lose sight of the fact that all this was taking place on an empty stomach, shortly after the rising of the lark.     

       'Yes, America. I suppose even you have heard of America?'     

       'But why America?'     

       'Because that is where your Cousin Gussie is. He is in New York, and I can't get at him.'     

       'What's Gussie been doing?'     

       'Gussie is making a perfect idiot of himself.'     

       To one who knew young Gussie as well as I did, the words opened up a wide field for speculation.     

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