"Peace, Jeeves. I have the situation well under control. I have had
one of my ideas. It may interest you to hear how my brain worked.
It occurred to me, thinking the thing over, that a house like St.
Ethelburga's would be likely to have near it a conservatory containing
flower pots. Then, like a flash, the whole thing came to me.
"I propose to procure some string, to tie it to a flower pot, to
balance the pot on a branch--there will, no doubt, be a tree near the
conservatory with a branch overhanging it--and to retire to a distance,
holding the string. You will station yourself with the kid near the
front door, taking care to keep carefully concealed. I shall then jerk
the string, the pot will smash the glass, the noise will bring someone
out, and while the front door is open you will shoot the kid in and
leave the rest to her personal judgment.
"Your share in the proceedings, you will notice, is simplicity itself.
How about it?"
"Well, sir----"
"Jeeves, I have had occasion before to comment on this habit of yours
of saying 'Well, sir' whenever I suggest anything in the nature of a
ruse or piece of strategy. I dislike it more every time you do it. But
I shall be glad to hear what possible criticism you can find to make."
"I was about to express the opinion, sir, that the plan seems
elaborate."
"In a place as tight as this you have got to be elaborate."
"Not necessarily, sir. The alternative scheme I was about to
propose----"