BOOKS BY P. G, WODEHOUSE “The Adrentures of Sly Bachelor Anejo ‘army in Wonderiand Big’ Money i the Conqueror Blinings Cale Catry On, Jeera ‘The clang of Cather Gexiat "Tbe ‘The Cove of the Woowers ‘The Coming of Bi Company fot Henry 2 Duma in Disa Do Butler Bumle Banks? Bacon Sty ‘Bean and Crum Few Quick Ong French Lave (Gaia 8e_andings 4 Grate of Lekare ‘Toe Gin in Boe ‘The Gi onthe Boar ‘The Mar of 3 Goel Weary Weather tot Wate Jet in the Retoom 11 Wee You Jdheretons of Archie ‘The Tnimiable Teves fore te te a pe Jit he ecaee = Jor in the Merog i i Lee hos de Neawet Lord Enver tnd Otten Lester and Fanti ove Astong the’ Ce ‘Tee Lad of ihe osha “The Mating Season Meet Me Molliner Dike and Pai Dike at Wika, Doney for Nothing Money in the Bank Mr Mallner Speaking Much Odtiged, Jeeves Dullinee Nighis Novhing Serious ‘The Ola Reliable Peary Git and Money Bodkin A Talia at Blandings Pizaity Ji Pigs have Wings Phim Pie Quick Service Ee Joe Sum the Sedden Service with 8 inte ‘The Small Bachelor Something Fay Something Freak Spring Fever ull Upper Lip, Joven ‘Summer Lightning ‘Summer Meonhige ‘Thank Yea, fever erage rile Dynamite Dele Frat in the Springing vest wee, SARs. ee Te se neue ay Atbiographicat ‘Over Sty Elo Petia P. G. WODEHOUSE Bachelors Anonymous & BARRIE & JENKINS LONDONChapter One Mr Ephraim Trout of Trout, Wapshott and Edel stein, one of the many legal firms employed by Ivor Llewellyn, head of the Superba-Llewellyn studio of Llewellyn City, Hollywood, was seeing Mr Llewellyn | off at the Los Angeles air port. The two men were i friends of long standing. Mr Trout had handled all } Mr Llewellyn’s five divorces, including his latest from Grayce, widow of Orlando Mulligan the \ ‘Western star, and this formed a bond. There is noth- ing like a good divorce for breaking down the barriers between lawyer and client. Ie gives them something to talk about, “T shall miss you, LL.,* Mr Trout was saying. ‘The | old place won't seem the same without you. But I é feel you are wise in transferring your activ London.” Mr Llewellyn felt the same. Hee had not taken this step without giving it cofsideration. He was a man ‘who, except when marrying, thought things over. “The English end needs gingering up,’ he said. "A. couple of sticks of dynamite under the seat of their ~ 7pants will do those dreamers all the good in the world” “Iwas not thinking so much,’ said Mr Trout, ‘of the bbenefissehich will no doube accrue to the English end as of those which you yourself will derive from your London visit’ “You get a good steak in London.” ‘Nor had T steaks in mind. I feel that now that Jou are free fom the insidious influence of Californ- fan sunshine the urge to many again will be Holmes and Doctor Watson shudder so much. ‘We can’t be sure the worst will happen,’ said Fred Basset at length. A man who peddles real estate always looks on the bright side. ‘It may be all right. ‘We must bear in mind that he has only just finished serving a long sentence as the husband of Grayce Mulligan. Surely a man who has had an experience like that will hesitate to put his head in the noose again.” “He told me that when the subject of his remarrying ‘came up,’ said Mr Trout, ‘and he seemed to mean, iw? “Ifyou ask me,’ said G. J. Flannery, always inclined to take the pessimistic view, his nature having been, soured by association with authors, i's more likely to work in just the opposite direction. After Grayce practically anyone will look good to him, and he will fall an easy prey to the first siren that comes along. Especially if he has had a drink or two. You know What he's like when he has had a couple.” Brows became more furrowed, lips tighter and eyes darker. There was a tendency to reproach Mr Trout. “You should have given him a word of warning, ELT, said Fred Basset. “I gave him several words of warning,’ said Mr ‘Trout, stung. ‘I did more. I told him of some lawyers 1 know in London who will be able to supply him with someone who can to a certain extent take the place of Bachelors Anonymous.” Fred Basset shook his head. Though enthusiastic when describing a desirable property to a prospective client, out of business hours he was a realist. 3