50 pages 1 hour read

P. G. Wodehouse

The Code of the Woosters

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1938

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Chapters 10-12

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 10 Summary

As expected, Madeline has summoned Wooster to tell him that because of the leg-fondling incident, her engagement to Gussie is off, and she’s now ready to make Wooster “happy.” She derides the bookish, newt-studying Gussie as a “satyr” and doesn’t believe Wooster’s tortuous explanation of why Gussie was frisking Stiffy’s leg—especially after her thorough search of the cow creamer yields no notebook. Dazed and bewildered by this last development, Wooster wanders into the hall and encounters Roderick Spode pounding on the door of Gussie’s bedroom. Wielding the power of “Eulalie,” Wooster deals him a sharp reprimand. Spode, seeking to justify his desire to “break [Gussie’s] neck,” shows him the missing notebook, which is full of malicious comments about himself and Sir Watkyn. Elated to have this elusive document in his hands at last, Wooster pockets it and sends Spode away. He then hands it to Gussie, who “fawns” over Wooster and rushes off to show it to Madeline.

Feeling that a “great weight” has lifted from his shoulders, Wooster returns to his room and tells Jeeves that he can begin packing for their departure from Totleigh Towers. His relief is such that he elects not to reprimand Jeeves for putting him through the ordeal of asking Sir Watkyn for Stiffy’s hand in marriage, which nevertheless worked out perfectly for all concerned.