Read A Pelican at Blandings for Free Online Page A

Nice chap?'
    'No, I wouldn't say that. He kept trying to sell me oil stock.
Just the American business drive, I suppose, but it was
embarrassing having to keep refusing, so I told Beach I would
have all my meals in the library, and of course avoiding him in
between meals was a simple task.'
    'Child's play to one who has spent years avoiding Connie.'
    'Beach tells me he left for London yesterday.'
    'But he may be coming back.'
    'I fear so.'
    'In fact, I shouldn't be surprised if this were not he whom I
see approaching us. No, not there; the other direction; slightly
more to your left.'
    'Yes, that is Mr. . . . Mr. . . . Mr. . . .'
    'Call him X,' said Gally.
    Howard Chesney was a slender young man of medium
height, distinctly ornamental in appearance, his flannel suit
well cut, his hat just as good as the one Lady Constance had
admired on the previous evening. The only criticism a purist
could have made of him was that his eyes were a little too wary
and a little too close together.
    Knowing at what a disadvantage Lord Emsworth would be
if called upon to introduce him to a man whose name he had
forgotten, Gally took it on himself to start the conversation.
    'Good afternoon,' he said. 'I am Lord Emsworth's brother.
Threepwood is the name. I hear you are a friend of my nephew
Freddie. How was he when you left him?'
    'Oh, fine.'
    'Selling lots of dog biscuits?'
    'Oh, sure.'
    'Splendid. That's the spirit one likes to see. My brother tells
me that you and he have been whooping it up together these
last days.'
    It was not quite how Howard Chesney would have
described his association with Lord Emsworth, but he allowed
the phrase to pass and spoke appreciatively of Blandings Castle
and the many attractions it had to offer. He also had a good
word to say about the beauties of the Shropshire countryside.
He had walked to the station yesterday, he said, and was
preparing now to walk back.
    'That,' said Gally approvingly, 'will be satisfactory to all
parties concerned, for with Clarence and me and my sister
Constance and the Duke . . . that is my sister over there and
the substantial object with her is the Duke of Dunstable . . . it
would be something of a squash if we all climbed into the car.
The Duke takes up quite a bit of room, and Clarence has a way
of spreading his legs about like an octopus's tentacles. You'll be
happier singing gypsy songs along the high road. How right
you were, Clarence,' said Gally as Howard moved away, 'not to
invest in oil stock sponsored by our young friend. I don't hold
it against him that his eyes are so close together . . . some of
my best friends are men with eyes close together . . . but if ever
I saw a con man, and in the course of a longish life I've seen
dozens, he's one. Where on earth do you think Freddie dug
him up?'
3
    Up at the castle Beach was in his pantry sipping his evening
glass of port, and seeing him one would have said that there sat
a butler with his soul at rest and not a disturbing thought on
his mind.
    One would have been in error. His soul was not at rest. It
would perhaps be too much to put it that vultures were
gnawing at his ample bosom, but he was certainly far from
carefree. Sensitive to atmosphere, he found that which now
prevailed at Blandings trying to his nervous system. It seemed
to him that with the return of Lady Constance a shadow had
fallen on the home he loved. He had not failed to note his
lordship's reaction to his announcement of her arrival, and he
foresaw hard times ahead. If only, he was thinking, Mr.
Galahad could have been here to lend aid and comfort to his
stricken employer: and even as he framed the thought the door
opened and Gally came in.
    To say that he leaped from his seat would be an overstatement.
Men of Beach's build do not leap from seats. He
did, however, rise slowly like a hippopotamus emerging from
a river bank, his emotions somewhat similar to those of a
beleaguered garrison when the United States Marines arrive.
    'Mr. Galahad!'
    'Why not?