Дживс, вы – гений! / Thank you, Jeeves!

But who wants to buy a house that size in these times? So he lives there most of the year, with nobody to talk to except the local doctor and parson and his Aunt Myrtle and her twelve-year-old son, Seabury[34 - Seabury – Сибери], who live at the Dower House[35 - Dower House – вдовий флигель] in the park.

Chuffy also owns the village of Chuffnell Regis—not that that does him much good, either. I mean to say, the taxes on the estate and all the expenses of repairs are very high. Still, he is the landlord, and, as such, would have dozens of cottages at his disposal.

“You’re the very chap I wanted to see, Chuffy,” I said accordingly. “Come right along with me to the Drones[36 - the Drones – «Трутни»] for a lunch. I must tell you something.”

He shook his head.

“I’d like it, Bertie, but I’m due at the Carlton[37 - the Carlton – «Карлтон» (название отеля)] in five minutes. I’m lunching with a man.”

“Well, bring him along, then.

”

Chuffy smiled.

“I don’t think you’d enjoy it, Bertie. He’s Sir Roderick Glossop.”

I goggled.

“Sir Roderick Glossop?”

“Yes.”

“But I didn’t know you knew him.”

“I don’t, very well. Just met him a couple of times. He’s a great friend of my Aunt Myrtle.”

“Ah! That explains it. I saw her dining with him last night.”

“Well, if you come to the Carlton, you’ll see me lunching with him today.”

“But, Chuffy, old man, is this wise? Is this prudent?”

“Nothing to do, Bertie.

I had an urgent wire[38 - an urgent wire – срочная телеграмма] from him yesterday, telling me to come up and see him immediately. So, I shall go, Bertie. But I’ll tell you what I will do. I’ll dine with you tomorrow night.”

But I had already formed my plans and made my arrangements and they could not be altered.

“I’m sorry, Chuffy. I’m leaving London tomorrow.”

“You are?”

“Yes.

The management of the building where I reside has offered me the choice between leaving immediately or ceasing to play the banjolele. I elected to leave. I am going to take a cottage in the country somewhere, and that’s what I meant when I said I wanted to talk to you. Can you let me have a cottage?”

“I can give you your choice of half a dozen.”

“It must be quiet and secluded. I shall be playing the banjolele a lot.”

“There is one.