Jonah and Co. Read online

  Produced by Al Haines

  JONAH AND CO.

  BY

  DORNFORD YATES

  WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED

  LONDON AND MELBOURNE

  LIBRARY EDITIONS OF "JONAH AND CO."

  First Published September 1922 Reprinted 2,000 October 1922 Reprinted 2,000 October 1923 Reprinted 2,000 September 1924 Reprinted 2,000 May 1925 Reprinted 3,000 February 1926 Reprinted 12,000 June 1927 Reprinted 8,000 March 1928 Reprinted 5,000 August 1929 Reprinted 10,000 August 1930 Reprinted 10,000 February 1933 Reprinted 8,000 December 1935 Reprinted 8,000 March 1939 Reprinted 5,000 February 1942 Reprinted 9,000 December 1943

  BOOK PRODUCTION WAR ECONOMY STANDARD

  THE TYPOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK CONFORMS TO THE AUTHORIZED ECONOMY STANDARD.

  MADE IN ENGLAND

  Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd., Frome and London

  To

  ELM TREE ROAD

  _MY LADY,_

  _It is hard, sitting here, to believe that, if I would call for a cab,I could be in St. James's Street in less than ten minutes of time.Nevertheless, it is true. I have proved it so many times. Soon Ishall prove it for the last time._

  _Better men than I will sit in this study and pace the lawn in thegarden with the high walls. The lilies and laburnums and all the gayfellowship of flowers will find a new waterman. The thrushes andblackbirds and wood-pigeons will find a new victualler. The privateforecourt, so richly hung with creeper, will give back my footfalls nomore. Other eyes will dwell gratefully upon the sweet pretty house andlook proudly out of its leaded window-panes._

  _The old order changeth, my lady. And so I am going, before I amdriven out._

  _Nine years ago there was a farm upon the opposite side of the road--alittle old English farm. Going out of my door of a morning, I used tomeet ducks and geese that were taking the air. And horses came home ateven, and cows lowed. Now the farm is gone, and a garage has taken itsroom. And other changes have come, and others still are coming._

  _So, you see, my lady, it is high time I was gone._

  _This quiet study has seen the making of my books. This--the last itwill see--I make bold to offer to you for many reasons, but mainlybecause, for one thing, this house belongs to you and, for another, nohostess was ever so charming to the stranger within her gates._

  _I have the honour to be,_

  _Your ladyship's humble servant, DORNFORD YATES._

  _Number Six._

  CONTENTS

  CHAP.

  I HOW BERRY STEPPED INTO THE BREACH, AND JONAH CAME FIRST AND WAS FIRST SERVED

  II HOW THREE WAGERS WERE MADE, AND ADELE KILLED TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

  III HOW A GOLDEN CALF WAS SET UP, AND NOBBY SHOWED HIMSELF A TRUE PROPHET

  IV HOW BERRY MADE AN ENGAGEMENT, JILL A PICTURE, AND ADELE A SLIP OF SOME IMPORTANCE

  V HOW LOVE CAME TO JILL, HERBERT TO THE RESCUE, AND A YOUNG MAN BY HIS RIGHT

  VI HOW BERRY RAN CONTRABAND GOODS, AND THE DUKE OF PADUA PLIGHTED JILL HIS TROTH

  VII HOW DAPHNE LOST HER BEDFELLOW, AND THE LINE OF LEAST RESISTANCE PROVED IRRESISTIBLE

  VIII HOW ADELE BOUGHT A BOTTLE OF PERFUME WHICH HAD NO SMELL, AND I CUT EULALIE DEAD

  IX HOW JONAH TOOK OFF HIS COAT, AND BERRY FLIRTED WITH FORTUNE FOR ALL HE WAS WORTH

  X HOW BERRY SOUGHT COMFORT IN VAIN, AND NOBBY SLEPT UPON A QUEEN'S BED

  XI HOW BERRY PUT OFF HIS MANHOOD, AND ADELE SHOWED A FAIR PAIR OF HEELS

  XII HOW A TELEGRAM CAME FOR JILL, PIERS DEMANDED HIS SWEETHEART, AND I DROVE AFTER MY WIFE

  _All the characters in this story are imaginary and have no reference to any living person._