Psmith in the City

gs, the accountant, knew it when his obsequious but cheerful 'Good morning' was acknowledged only by a 'Morn'' which was almost an oath. Mr Bickersdyke passed up the aisle and into his room l

n very similar to this that George Barstead, formerly in the employ of the New Asiatic Bank in the capacity of messenger, had been rash e

manager. Then he paused. '

ed in the doo

ng at me, man,' cried M

nformed his brother,

, Mr Bickersdyke

lliam, soaring a trifle

siatic Bank staff of messengers dismissed Mr Bickersdyke and proceeded to concentrate themselves on their duti

rdness of Psmith's stare. Theoretically, Mr Bickersdyke had the power to dismiss any subordinate of his whom he did not consider satisfactory, but it was a power that had to be exercised with discretion. The manager was accountable for his actions to the Board of Directors. If he dismissed Psmith, Psmith would certainly bring an action against the bank for wrongful

ll again, and sen

ing Mr Rossiter that the referee was a robber, who had evidently been financially interested in the result of the game. The way he himself looked at it, said Psmith, was that the thing

ottest proposition he had ever struck. Psmith's work-well, it stood alone. You couldn't compare it wi

y, but that was the

glad to hear it, and smashed a

at the bank-manager was due to address

y because his defeat had been heavy. There was another reason. On that occasion he had stood as a Liberal. He was standing for Kenningford as a Unionist. Of course, a man is at perfect liberty to change his views, if he wishes to do so, but th

t type of humour, which finds a verbal vent in catch phrases and expends itself physically in smashing shop

Opposition. From time to time confederates in the audience rise and ask carefully rehearsed questions, and are answered fully and satisfactorily by the orator. When a genuine heckler interrupts, the orator either ignores him, or says haughtily that he can find him argumen

eer, an excellent man for the purpose in every resp

des these there was a strong contingent who did not care which side won. These looked on elections as Heaven-sent opportunities for making a great deal of noise. They attended meetings in order to extract amusement from them; and they vo

s 'Arry', throughout his speech, which was rather long. They implored him to be a pal and sing 'The Saftest of the Family'. Or, failing that, 'I love a lassie'. Finding they could not induce him to do this

ent spirits when Mr Bicke

d independent electors at the back of the hall slightly limp. The ba

ittle by little the audience came under his spell. When, at the end of a well-turned sentence, he paused and

g said some nasty things about Free Trade and the Alien Immigrant, turned to

lf-measures,' he said.

burn our

' said a ge

had risen. Mr Bickersdyke found himself looking at a gleaming eye-

dience, and simply by continuing and ignoring the interruption, he could have won thr

ou propose to strengthen t

ion enraged even the ple

cried the earn

!' roared the p

own with a p

dience. A moment before, he had grasped them and played on their minds (or what passed

art of his speech had been received, that silence which is a greater tribute to the speaker than any applause, had given place to a restless medley of little noises;

t interesting. He quoted figures, saw a moment later that he had not quoted the

at the back of the hall, an

on. He condemned the Government. He

he told a

member of the Government takes all the credit for what is done to himself. Their methods remin

de inn and see a very large trout in a glass case. They make inquiries about it, have men assure them, one b

n experience of his own while fishi

renchant comparison between the lack of genuine merit in the trout and t

was ap

ed, Psmith rose

me,' h