“I don’t—What I mean to say—” began Mike.

“If your trouble is,” said Psmith, “that you fear that you may be in unworthy company——”

“Don’t be an ass.”

“——Dismiss it. I am playing.”

Mike stared.

“You’re what? You?”

“I,” said Psmith, breathing on a coat-button, and polishing it with his handkerchief.

“Can you play cricket?”

“You have discovered,” said Psmith, “my secret sorrow.”

“You’re rotting.”