The Sunny Side | Page 2

to meet me there, and if by any chance

you have gone out we shall wait till you come back.
"Yours ever,
"SAMUEL
"P.S.--I have asked Thomas too."
* * * * *
"Well?" said Myra eagerly, as I gave her back the letter.
In deep thought I buttered a piece of toast.
"We could stop Thomas," I said. "We might ring up the Admiralty and
ask them to give him something to do this evening. I don't know about
Archie. Is he--"
"Oh, what do you think it is? Aren't you excited?" She sighed and
added, "Of course I know what Samuel is."
"Yes. Probably he wants us all to go to the Zoo together ... or he's
discovered a new way of putting, or--I say, I didn't know Archie and
Dahlia were in town."
"They aren't. But I expect Samuel telegraphed to them to meet him
under the clock at Charing Cross disguised, when they would hear of
something to their advantage. Oh, I wonder what it is. It must be
something real this time."
Since the day when Simpson woke me up at six o'clock in the morning
to show me his stance-for-a-full-wooden-club shot I have distrusted his
enthusiasms; but Myra loves him as a mother; and I--I couldn't do
without him; and when a man like that invites a whole crowd of people
to come to your flat just about the time when you are wondering what
has happened to the sardines on toast--well, it isn't polite to put the
chain on the door and explain through the letter-box that you have gone
away for a week.

"We'd better have dinner a bit earlier to be on the safe side," I said, as
Myra gave me a parting brush down in the hall. "If any further
developments occur in the course of the day, ring me up at the office.
By the way, Simpson doesn't seem to have invited Peter. I wonder why
not. He's nearly two, and he ought to be in it. Myra, I'm sure I'm tidy
now."
"Pipe, tobacco, matches, keys, money?"
"Everything," I said. "Bless you. Goodbye."
"Good-bye," said Myra lingeringly. "What do you think he meant by 'as
time is so short'?"
"I don't know. At least," I added, looking at my watch, "I do know. I
shall be horribly late. Good-bye."
I fled down the stairs into the street, waved to Myra at the window ...
and then came cautiously up again for my pipe. Life is very difficult on
the mornings when you are in a hurry.
At dinner that night Myra could hardly eat for excitement.
"You'll be sorry afterwards," I warned her, "when it turns out to be
nothing more than that he has had his hair cut."
"But even if it is, I don't see why I shouldn't be excited at seeing my
only brother again--not to mention sister-in-law."
"Then let's move," I said. "They'll be here directly."
Archie and Dahlia came first. We besieged them with questions as soon
as they appeared.
"Haven't an idea," said Archie, "I wanted to bring a revolver in case it
was anything really desperate, but Dahlia wouldn't let me."
"It would have been useful too," I said, "if it turned out to be something
merely futile."

"You're not going to hurt my Samuel, however futile it is," said Myra.
"Dahlia, how's Peter, and will you have some coffee?"
"Peter's lovely. You've had coffee, haven't you, Archie?"
"Better have some more," I suggested, "in case Simpson is merely
soporific. We anticipate a slumbering audience, and Samuel explaining
a new kind of googlie he's invented."
Entered Thomas lazily.
"Hallo," he said in his slow voice. "What's it all about?"
"It's a raid on the Begum's palace," explained Archie rapidly. "Dahlia
decoys the Chief Mucilage; you, Thomas, drive the submarine; Myra
has charge of the clockwork mouse, and we others hang about and sing.
To say more at this stage would be to bring about a European conflict."
"Coffee, Thomas?" said Myra.
"I bet he's having us on," said Thomas gloomily, as he stirred his
coffee.
There was a hurricane in the hall. Chairs were swept over; coats and
hats fell to the ground; a high voice offered continuous apologies--and
Simpson came in.
"Hallo, Myra!" he said eagerly. "Hallo, old chap! Hallo, Dahlia! Hallo,
Archie! Hallo, Thomas, old boy!" He fixed his spectacles firmly on his
nose and beamed round the room.
"We're all here--thanking you very much for inviting us," I said. "Have
a cigar--if you've brought any with you."
Fortunately he had brought several with him.
"Now then, I'll give any of you three guesses what it's all about."
"No, you don't. We're all waiting, and you can begin your apology right

away."
Simpson took a deep breath and began.
"I've been lent a