A Damsel in Distress

"Do you want me to be your best man?"

"Absolutely, if you don't mind. You see," said Reggie

confidentially, "it's like this. I've got lots of pals, of course,

buzzing about all over London and its outskirts, who'd be glad

enough to rally round and join the execution-squad; but you know

how it is. Their maters are all pals of my mater, and I don't want

to get them into trouble for aiding and abetting my little show, if

you understand what I mean. Now, you're different. You don't know

the mater, so it doesn't matter to you if she rolls around and puts

the Curse of the Byngs on you, and all that sort of thing. Besides,

I don't know." Reggie mused. "Of course, this is the happiest day

of my life," he proceeded, "and I'm not saying it isn't, but you

know how it is--there's absolutely no doubt that a chappie does not

show at his best when he's being married. What I mean to say is,

he's more or less bound to look a fearful ass. And I'm perfectly

certain it would put me right off my stroke if I felt that some

chump like Jack Ferris or Ronnie Fitzgerald was trying not to

giggle in the background. So, if you will be a sportsman and come

and hold my hand till the thing's over, I shall be eternally

grateful."

"Where are you going to be married?"

"In London. Alice sneaked off there last night. It was easy, as it

happened, because by a bit of luck old Marshmoreton had gone to

town yesterday morning--nobody knows why: he doesn't go up to

London more than a couple of times a year. She's going to meet me

at the Savoy, and then the scheme was to toddle round to the

nearest registrar and request the lad to unleash the marriage

service. I'm whizzing up in the car, and I'm hoping to be able to

persuade you to come with me. Say the word, laddie!"

George reflected. He liked Reggie, and there was no particular

reason in the world why he should not give him aid and comfort in

this crisis. True, in his present frame of mind, it would be

torture to witness a wedding ceremony; but he ought not to let that

stand in the way of helping a friend.

"All right," he said.

"Stout fellow! I don't know how to thank you. It isn't putting you

out or upsetting your plans, I hope, or anything on those lines?"

"Not at all. I had to go up to London today, anyway."

"Well, you can't get there quicker than in my car. She's a hummer.

By the way, I forgot to ask. How is your little affair coming

along? Everything going all right?"