question about a Wodehouse story - a loose end not explained

[a***@gmail.com]

I recently read a story by Plum , entitled 'Ring for Jeeves'. (It might have been published under other titles too)

This is the story where Jeeves has a temporary leave of absence from B. Wooster and enters the employment of Lord Rowcester of Rowcester Abbey. His Lordship and Jeeves become book-makers (for several reasons) and end up owing a lot of money to a Captain Biggar.

Captain Biggar is a White Hunter from east of Suez. He is in love with a very wealthy American woman, Mrs. Spottsworth. But the captain's rigid code (poor person proposing to a rich woman is considered 'not playing with a straight bat', by his pals in the Anglo-Malay club in kuala Lumpur, or the Long bar in Shanghai. Tubby Frobisher, the Subahdar, Doc, and Squiffy, to name a few, would snigger if they hear about this)

The story goes through many twists and turns. However at one point, Captain Biggar says that he had presented Mrs. Spottsworth with a pendant many years ago, and he wants to borrow it (pinch it) for a few hours. So he enlists the help of Lord Rowcester.

However at a later point in the story, Mrs. Spottworth claims that the pendant was given to her by her late husband Mr. Spottsworth.

The story ends without resolving this anomaly. If any of you know the answer (from any other re-print of this story), I would like to be enlightened.

Thanks.
a

[Ashe Marson]

Captain Biggar obviously lied, as Rowcester and Jeeves realise after the lady tells them that they were a gift from her late husband.

This blighted Biggar has used me as a cat's-paw. He told me the tale. Like an ass, I believed him. I pinched the pendant, swallowing mat whole
story of his about it practically belonging to him and he only wanted to borrow it for a few hours, and off he went to London with it, and I don't suppose we shall ever see him again. Do you?"
"It would appear improbable, m'lord."
"One of those remote contingencies, what?"
"Extremely remote, I fear, m'lord."
"You wouldn't care to kick me, Jeeves?"
"No, m'lord."

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
I recently read a story by Plum , entitled 'Ring for Jeeves'. (It might have been published under other titles too)
This is the story where Jeeves has a temporary leave of absence from B. Wooster and enters the employment of Lord Rowcester of Rowcester Abbey. His Lordship and Jeeves become book-makers (for several reasons) and end up owing a lot of money to a Captain Biggar.
Captain Biggar is a White Hunter from east of Suez. He is in love with a very wealthy American woman, Mrs. Spottsworth. But the captain's rigid code (poor person proposing to a rich woman is considered 'not playing with a straight bat', by his pals in the Anglo-Malay club in kuala Lumpur, or the Long bar in Shanghai. Tubby Frobisher, the Subahdar, Doc, and Squiffy, to name a few, would snigger if they hear about this)
The story goes through many twists and turns. However at one point, Captain Biggar says that he had presented Mrs. Spottsworth with a pendant many years ago, and he wants to borrow it (pinch it) for a few hours. So he enlists the help of Lord Rowcester.
However at a later point in the story, Mrs. Spottworth claims that the pendant was given to her by her late husband Mr. Spottsworth.
The story ends without resolving this anomaly. If any of you know the answer (from any other re-print of this story), I would like to be enlightened.
Thanks.
a

But this does not quite jive with the character of Captain Biggar. (White Hunter, the code, straight bat and so on)
My thinking is that Plum possibly had an explanation but did not get around to putting this in the novel.
(perhaps the only error in all of Plum's works)

[Ashe Marson]

Hmm. It is not the only error. Errors and anomalies, not exactly abound, but occur in many places. Plum has played fast and loose with first names, notably Psmith's. Psmith is Ronald Eustace in one book and Rupert in one.

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
I recently read a story by Plum , entitled 'Ring for Jeeves'. (It might have been published under other titles too)
This is the story where Jeeves has a temporary leave of absence from B. Wooster and enters the employment of Lord Rowcester of Rowcester Abbey. His Lordship and Jeeves become book-makers (for several reasons) and end up owing a lot of money to a Captain Biggar.
Captain Biggar is a White Hunter from east of Suez. He is in love with a very wealthy American woman, Mrs. Spottsworth. But the captain's rigid code (poor person proposing to a rich woman is considered 'not playing with a straight bat', by his pals in the Anglo-Malay club in kuala Lumpur, or the Long bar in Shanghai. Tubby Frobisher, the Subahdar, Doc, and Squiffy, to name a few, would snigger if they hear about this)
The story goes through many twists and turns. However at one point, Captain Biggar says that he had presented Mrs. Spottsworth with a pendant many years ago, and he wants to borrow it (pinch it) for a few hours. So he enlists the help of Lord Rowcester.
However at a later point in the story, Mrs. Spottworth claims that the pendant was given to her by her late husband Mr. Spottsworth.
The story ends without resolving this anomaly. If any of you know the answer (from any other re-print of this story), I would like to be enlightened.
Thanks.
a

I guess you are right. I also recall this character Brinkley (who chases Bertie with a knife and also sets Bertie's cottage on fire). Mr. Brinkley suddenly becomes Bingley in a subsequent story!

[Ashe Marson]

Post by a***@gmail.com
I recently read a story by Plum , entitled 'Ring for Jeeves'. (It might have been published under other titles too)
This is the story where Jeeves has a temporary leave of absence from B. Wooster and enters the employment of Lord Rowcester of Rowcester Abbey. His Lordship and Jeeves become book-makers (for several reasons) and end up owing a lot of money to a Captain Biggar.
Captain Biggar is a White Hunter from east of Suez. He is in love with a very wealthy American woman, Mrs. Spottsworth. But the captain's rigid code (poor person proposing to a rich woman is considered 'not playing with a straight bat', by his pals in the Anglo-Malay club in kuala Lumpur, or the Long bar in Shanghai. Tubby Frobisher, the Subahdar, Doc, and Squiffy, to name a few, would snigger if they hear about this)
The story goes through many twists and turns. However at one point, Captain Biggar says that he had presented Mrs. Spottsworth with a pendant many years ago, and he wants to borrow it (pinch it) for a few hours. So he enlists the help of Lord Rowcester.
However at a later point in the story, Mrs. Spottworth claims that the pendant was given to her by her late husband Mr. Spottsworth.
The story ends without resolving this anomaly. If any of you know the answer (from any other re-print of this story), I would like to be enlightened.
Thanks.
a

That's right. These anomalies don't bother the readers, who are there for the laughs and the language, and didn't seem to bother Plum himself.

[c***@gmail.com]

Post by Ashe Marson

Post by a***@gmail.com
I recently read a story by Plum , entitled 'Ring for Jeeves'. (It might have been published under other titles too)
This is the story where Jeeves has a temporary leave of absence from B. Wooster and enters the employment of Lord Rowcester of Rowcester Abbey. His Lordship and Jeeves become book-makers (for several reasons) and end up owing a lot of money to a Captain Biggar.
Captain Biggar is a White Hunter from east of Suez. He is in love with a very wealthy American woman, Mrs. Spottsworth. But the captain's rigid code (poor person proposing to a rich woman is considered 'not playing with a straight bat', by his pals in the Anglo-Malay club in kuala Lumpur, or the Long bar in Shanghai. Tubby Frobisher, the Subahdar, Doc, and Squiffy, to name a few, would snigger if they hear about this)
The story goes through many twists and turns. However at one point, Captain Biggar says that he had presented Mrs. Spottsworth with a pendant many years ago, and he wants to borrow it (pinch it) for a few hours. So he enlists the help of Lord Rowcester.
However at a later point in the story, Mrs. Spottworth claims that the pendant was given to her by her late husband Mr. Spottsworth.
The story ends without resolving this anomaly. If any of you know the answer (from any other re-print of this story), I would like to be enlightened.
Thanks.
a

That's right. These anomalies don't bother the readers, who are there for the laughs and the language, and didn't seem to bother Plum himself.

Thackeray had characters in Vanity Fair who died, then reappeared in later chapters, hale and hearty. His was a serialized novel, so perhaps he can be forgiven for resurrecting a character he killed, due to poor memory and disinterest in rereading one's own bilge. Wodehouse had similar challenges, I suppose, with characters appearing and reappearing over decades, having aged only minimally. But he was known to make extensive outlines of his action, but perhaps not diagrams of the people involved from book to book.

Cheers,

A Double Whisky and Splash