I could see the man was wounded, and, of course, the whole episode had been extremely jarring and unpleasant; but these things have to be gone through. Is one a serf or isn't one? That's what it all boils down to. Having made my point, I changed the subject.
'Well, that's that,' I said. 'We now approach another topic. Do you know any housemaids, Jeeves?'
'Housemaids, sir?'
'Come, come, Jeeves, you know what housemaids are.'
'Are you requiring a housemaid, sir?'
'No, but Mr Little is. I met him at the club a couple of days ago, and he told me that Mrs Little is offering rich rewards to anybody who will find her one guaranteed to go light on the china.'
'Indeed, sir?'
'Yes. The one now in office apparently runs through the objets d'art like a typhoon, simoom, or sirocco. So if you know any—'
'I know a great many, sir. Some intimately, others mere acquaintances.'
'Well, start digging round among the old pals. And now the hat, the stick, and other necessaries. I must be getting along and handing in this article.'