II.

Naturally the hotel is very much excited. It is the most thrilling event

since the mixed foursomes. Nothing else has been discussed since

breakfast. Ten people had beds and about ten people are suspected. The

really extraordinary thing is that numbers of people seem to suspect

_me_! That is the worst of being a professional humourist; everything is

put down to you. When I was accompanying Mrs. F. to-day she suddenly

stopped fiddling and said hotly that someone had been tampering with her

violin. I know she suspected me. Fortunately, however, I have a very

good answer to this apple-pie bed charge. Eric says that his bed must

have been done after dinner, and I was to be seen at the dance in the

lounge all the evening. I have an alibi.

Besides I had a bed myself; surely they don't believe that even a

professional humourist could be so bursting with humour as to make

himself an apple-pie bed and not make one for his brother-in-law in the

same room! It would be too much like overtime.

But they say that only shows my cleverness....

Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 159, 1920-10-06 · 第 26 / 55 题