successful general. He was content to secure his base before making any
offensive movement. It was a fortnight before he turned his attention
to the education of Mr Bickersdyke. During that fortnight he conversed
attractively, in the intervals of work, on the subject of League
football in general and Manchester United in particular. The subject is
not hard to master if one sets oneself earnestly to it; and Psmith
spared no pains. The football editions of the evening papers are not
reticent about those who play the game: and Psmith drank in every
detail with the thoroughness of the conscientious student. By the end
of the fortnight he knew what was the favourite breakfast-food of J.
Turnbull; what Sandy Turnbull wore next his skin; and who, in the
opinion of Meredith, was England's leading politician. These facts,
imparted to and discussed with Mr Rossiter, made the progress of the
_entente cordiale_ rapid. It was on the eighth day that Mr
Rossiter consented to lunch with the Old Etonian. On the tenth he
played the host. By the end of the fortnight the flapping of the white
wings of Peace over the Postage Department was setting up a positive
draught. Mike, who had been introduced by Psmith as a distant relative
of Moger, the goalkeeper, was included in the great peace.

'So that now,' said Psmith, reflectively polishing his eye-glass, 'I
think that we may consider ourselves free to attend to Comrade
Bickersdyke. Our bright little Mancunian friend would no more run us in
now than if we were the brothers Turnbull. We are as inside forwards to
him.'

The club to which Psmith and Mr Bickersdyke belonged was celebrated for
the steadfastness of its political views, the excellence of its
cuisine, and the curiously Gorgonzolaesque marble of its main
staircase. It takes all sorts to make a world. It took about four