'Undoubtedly. I am all impatience. I should say that in an institution
like this, dealing as it does with distant portions of the globe, a
philatelist would have excellent opportunities of increasing his
collection. With me, stamp-collecting has always been a positive craze.
I--'

'I have no time for nonsense of that sort myself,' said Mr Rossiter. 'I
should advise you, if you mean to get on, to devote more time to your
work and less to stamps.'

'I will start at once. Dried seaweed, again--'

'Get on with your work, Smith.'

Psmith retired to his desk.

'This,' he said to Mike, 'is undoubtedly something in the nature of a
set-back. I have drawn blank. The papers bring out posters, "Psmith
Baffled." I must try again. Meanwhile, to work. Work, the hobby of the
philosopher and the poor man's friend.'

The morning dragged slowly on without incident. At twelve o'clock Mike
had to go out and buy stamps, which he subsequently punched in the
punching-machine in the basement, a not very exhilarating job in which
he was assisted by one of the bank messengers, who discoursed learnedly
on roses during the _seance_. Roses were his hobby. Mike began to
see that Psmith had reason in his assumption that the way to every
man's heart was through his hobby. Mike made a firm friend of William,
the messenger, by displaying an interest and a certain knowledge of