day. If Comrade Bickersdyke wishes to emend any little traits in my
character of which he may disapprove, he shall never say that I did not
give him the opportunity. I shall mix freely with Comrade Bickersdyke
at the Senior Conservative Club. I shall be his constant companion. I
shall, in short, haunt the man. By these strenuous means I shall, as it
were, get a bit of my own back. And now,' said Psmith, rising, 'it
might be as well, perhaps, to return to the bank and resume our
commercial duties. I don't know how long you are supposed to be allowed
for your little trips to and from the post-office, but, seeing that the
distance is about thirty yards, I should say at a venture not more than
half an hour. Which is exactly the space of time which has flitted by
since we started out on this important expedition. Your devotion to
porridge, Comrade Jackson, has led to our spending about twenty-five
minutes in this hostelry.'

'Great Scott,' said Mike, 'there'll be a row.'

'Some slight temporary breeze, perhaps,' said Psmith. 'Annoying to men
of culture and refinement, but not lasting. My only fear is lest we may
have worried Comrade Rossiter at all. I regard Comrade Rossiter as an
elder brother, and would not cause him a moment's heart-burning for
worlds. However, we shall soon know,' he added, as they passed into the
bank and walked up the aisle, 'for there is Comrade Rossiter waiting to
receive us in person.'

The little head of the Postage Department was moving restlessly about
in the neighbourhood of Psmith's and Mike's desk.

'Am I mistaken,' said Psmith to Mike, 'or is there the merest suspicion
of a worried look on our chief's face? It seems to me that there is the