The Swoop by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
page 43 of 85 (50%)
page 43 of 85 (50%)
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The Grand Duke made another objection.
"I understand," he said, "it is etiquette for music-hall artists in their spare time to eat--er--fried fish with their fingers. Must I do that? I doubt if I could manage it." Mr Quhayne once more became the human semaphore. "S'elp me! Of course you needn't! All the leading pros, eat it with a spoon. Bless you, you can be the refined gentleman on the Halls same as anywhere else. Come now, your Grand Grace, is it a deal? Four hundred and fifty chinking o'Goblins a week for one hall a night, and press-agented at eight hundred and seventy-five. S'elp me! Lauder doesn't get it, not in England." The Grand Duke reflected. The invasion has proved more expensive than he had foreseen. The English are proverbially a nation of shopkeepers, and they had put up their prices in all the shops for his special benefit. And he was expected to do such a lot of tipping. Four hundred and fifty a week would come in uncommonly useful. "Where do I sign?" he asked, extending his hand for the agreement. * * * * * Five minutes later Mr. Quhayne was urging his taxidriver to exceed the speed-limit in the direction of Tottenham. |
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