Intrusion of Jimmy

G. Wodehouse P.

Description

Also published under the title A Gentleman of Leisure, The Intrusion of Jimmy plumbs the depths of misbegotten romantic entanglements with a level of skill and virtuosity that only famed British humorist P.G. Wodehouse could pull off without a hitch. After falling in love with a comely fellow passenger on a sea voyage, wealthy gadabout Jimmy Pitt is sucked into a downward spiral of unfortunate events and bad decisions while trying to woo his beloved.

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 novembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775450191
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE INTRUSION OF JIMMY
A GENTLEMAN OF LEISURE
* * *
P. G. WODEHOUSE
 
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The Intrusion of Jimmy A Gentleman of Leisure First published in 1910 ISBN 978-1-775450-19-1 © 2010 The Floating Press
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.
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Contents
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Chapter I - Jimmy Makes a Bet Chapter II - Pyramus and Thisbe Chapter III - Mr. Mceachern Chapter IV - Molly Chapter V - A Thief in the Night Chapter VI - An Exhibition Performance Chapter VII - Getting Acquainted Chapter VIII - At Dreever Chapter IX - Friends, New and Old Chapter X - Jimmy Adopts a Lame Dog Chapter XI - At the Turn of the Road Chapter XII - Making a Start Chapter XIII - Spike's Views Chapter XIV - Check and a Counter Move Chapter XV - Mr. Mceachern Intervenes Chapter XVI - A Marriage Arranged Chapter XVII - Jimmy Remembers Something Chapter XVIII - The Lochinvar Method Chapter XIX - On the Lake Chapter XX - A Lesson in Picquet Chapter XXI - Loathsome Gifts Chapter XXII - Two of a Trade Disagree Chapter XXIII - Family Jars Chapter XXIV - The Treasure Seeker Chapter XXV - Explanations Chapter XXVI - Stirring Times for Sir Thomas Chapter XXVII - A Declaration of Independence Chapter XXVIII - Spennie's Hour of Clear Vision Chapter XXIX - The Last Round Chapter XXX - Conclusion
Chapter I - Jimmy Makes a Bet
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The main smoking-room of the Strollers' Club had been filling forthe last half-hour, and was now nearly full. In many ways, theStrollers', though not the most magnificent, is the pleasantest clubin New York. Its ideals are comfort without pomp; and it is givenover after eleven o'clock at night mainly to the Stage. Everybody isyoung, clean-shaven, and full of conversation: and the conversationstrikes a purely professional note.
Everybody in the room on this July night had come from the theater.Most of those present had been acting, but a certain number had beento the opening performance of the latest better-than-Raffles play.There had been something of a boom that season in dramas whoseheroes appealed to the public more pleasantly across the footlightsthan they might have done in real life. In the play that had openedto-night, Arthur Mifflin, an exemplary young man off the stage, hadbeen warmly applauded for a series of actions which, performedanywhere except in the theater, would certainly have debarred himfrom remaining a member of the Strollers' or any other club. Infaultless evening dress, with a debonair smile on his face, he hadbroken open a safe, stolen bonds and jewelry to a large amount, andescaped without a blush of shame via the window. He had foiled adetective through four acts, and held up a band of pursuers with arevolver. A large audience had intimated complete approvalthroughout.
"It's a hit all right," said somebody through the smoke.
"These near-'Raffles' plays always are," grumbled Willett, whoplayed bluff fathers in musical comedy. "A few years ago, they wouldhave been scared to death of putting on a show with a crook as hero.Now, it seems to me the public doesn't want anything else. Not thatthey know what they DO want," he concluded, mournfully.
"The Belle of Boulogne," in which Willett sustained the role ofCyrus K. Higgs, a Chicago millionaire, was slowly fading away on adiet of paper, and this possibly prejudiced him.
Raikes, the character actor, changed the subject. If Willett oncegot started on the wrongs of the ill-fated "Belle," generalconversation would become impossible. Willett, denouncing thestupidity of the public, as purely a monologue artiste.
"I saw Jimmy Pitt at the show," said Raikes. Everybody displayedinterest.
"Jimmy Pitt? When did he come back? I thought he was in Italy."
"He came on the Lusitania, I suppose. She docked this morning."
"Jimmy Pitt?" said Sutton, of the Majestic Theater. "How long has hebeen away? Last I saw of him was at the opening of 'The Outsider' atthe Astor. That's a couple of months ago."
"He's been traveling in Europe, I believe," said Raikes. "Luckybeggar to be able to. I wish I could."
Sutton knocked the ash off his cigar.
"I envy Jimmy," he said. "I don't know anyone I'd rather be. He'sgot much more money than any man except a professional 'plute' hasany right to. He's as strong as an ox. I shouldn't say he'd ever hadanything worse than measles in his life. He's got no relations. Andhe isn't married."
Sutton, who had been married three times, spoke with some feeling.
"He's a good chap, Jimmy," said Raikes.
"Yes," said Arthur Mifflin, "yes, Jimmy is a good chap. I've knownhim for years. I was at college with him. He hasn't got mybrilliance of intellect; but he has some wonderfully fine qualities.For one thing, I should say he had put more deadbeats on their legsagain than half the men in New York put together."
"Well," growled Willett, whom the misfortunes of the Belle hadsoured, "what's there in that? It's mighty easy to do thephilanthropist act when you're next door to a millionaire."
"Yes," said Mifflin warmly, "but it's not so easy when you'regetting thirty dollars a week on a newspaper. When Jimmy was areporter on the News, there used to be a whole crowd of fellows justliving on him. Not borrowing an occasional dollar, mind you, butliving on him—sleeping on his sofa, and staying to breakfast. Itmade me mad. I used to ask him why he stood for it. He said therewas nowhere else for them to go, and he thought he could see themthrough all right—which he did, though I don't see how he managedit on thirty a week."
"If a man's fool enough to be an easy mark—" began Willett.
"Oh, cut it out!" said Raikes. "We don't want anybody knocking Jimmyhere."
"All the same," said Sutton, "it seems to me that it was mightylucky that he came into that money. You can't keep open house forever on thirty a week. By the way, Arthur, how was that? I heard itwas his uncle."
"It wasn't his uncle," said Mifflin. "It was by way of being aromance of sorts, I believe. Fellow who had been in love withJimmy's mother years ago went West, made a pile, and left it to Mrs.Pitt or her children. She had been dead some time when thathappened. Jimmy, of course, hadn't a notion of what was coming tohim, when suddenly he got a solicitor's letter asking him to call.He rolled round, and found that there was about five hundredthousand dollars just waiting for him to spend it."
Jimmy Pitt had now definitely ousted "Love, the Cracksman" as atopic of conversation. Everybody present knew him. Most of them hadknown him in his newspaper days; and, though every man there wouldhave perished rather than admit it, they were grateful to Jimmy forbeing exactly the same to them now that he could sign a check forhalf a million as he had been on the old thirty-a-week basis.Inherited wealth, of course, does not make a young man nobler ormore admirable; but the young man does not always know this.
"Jimmy's had a queer life," said Mifflin. "He's been pretty mucheverything in his time. Did you know he was on the stage before hetook up newspaper-work? Only on the road, I believe. He got tired ofit, and cut it out. That's always been his trouble. He wouldn'tsettle down to anything. He studied law at Yale, but he never keptit up. After he left the stage, he moved all over the States,without a cent, picking up any odd job he could get. He was a waiteronce for a couple of days, but they fired him for breaking plates.Then, he got a job in a jeweler's shop. I believe he's a bit of anexpert on jewels. And, another time, he made a hundred dollars bystaying three rounds against Kid Brady when the Kid was touring thecountry after he got the championship away from Jimmy Garwin. TheKid was offering a hundred to anyone who could last three roundswith him. Jimmy did it on his head. He was the best amateur of hisweight I ever saw. The Kid wanted him to take up scrappingseriously. But Jimmy wouldn't have stuck to anything long enough inthose days. He's one of the gypsies of the world. He was neverreally happy unless he was on the move, and he doesn't seem to havealtered since he came into his money."
"Well, he can afford to keep on the move now," said Raikes. "I wishI—"
"Did you ever hear about Jimmy and—" Mifflin was beginning, whenthe Odyssey of Jimmy Pitt was interrupted by the opening of the doorand the entrance of Ulysses in person.
Jimmy Pitt was a young man of medium height, whose great breadth anddepth of chest made him look shorter than he really was. His jaw wassquare, and protruded slightly; and this, combined with a certainathletic jauntiness of carriage and a pair of piercing brown eyesvery much like those of a bull-terrier, gave him an air ofaggressiveness, which belied his character. He was not aggressive.He had the good-nature as well as the eyes of a bull-terrier. Also,he possessed, when stirred, all the bull-terrier's doggeddetermination.
There were shouts of welcome.
"Hullo, Jimmy!"
"When did you get back?"
"Come and sit down. Plenty of room over here."
"Where is my wandering boy tonight?"
"Waiter! What's yours, Jimmy?"
Jimmy dropped into a seat, and yawned.
"Well," he said, "how goes it? Hullo, Raikes! Weren't you at 'Love,the Cracksman'? I thought I saw you. Hullo, Arthur! Congratulateyou. You spoke your piece nicely."
"Thanks," said Mifflin. "We were just talking about you, Jimmy. Youcame on the Lusitania, I suppose?"
"She didn't break the record this time," said Sutton.
A somewhat pensive look came into Jimmy's eyes.
"She came much too quick for me," he said. "I don't see why theywant to rip alo