A Complimentary Close Query, Please!

[Michael Hudson]

At least I think it's a complimentary close... I recall in one or more
stories a dismissive phrase, either spoken or written, that goes
something like "I'll be following your future success..." or "I'll be
following your progress with great interest..." Like that.

Do any of you encylopaedic types recall such a turn of phrase?

Pip pip!

M

[Mike Schilling]

Post by Michael Hudson
At least I think it's a complimentary close... I recall in one or more
stories a dismissive phrase, either spoken or written, that goes
something like "I'll be following your future success..." or "I'll be
following your progress with great interest..." Like that.
Do any of you encylopaedic types recall such a turn of phrase?

No, but it sounds like something Psmith would say.

[kkt]

Post by Michael Hudson
At least I think it's a complimentary close... I recall in one or more
stories a dismissive phrase, either spoken or written, that goes
something like "I'll be following your future success..." or "I'll be
following your progress with great interest..." Like that.
Do any of you encylopaedic types recall such a turn of phrase?

I have heard phrases like that in non-Wodehouse contexts. It's the
sort of thing a teacher would write to a graduating student, or a
supervisor to departing staff, if they are parting on good terms. I
remember it as "I will follow your future career with great interest."
But I don't think it was an exact set phrase as frozen as a grant of
knighthood.

-- Patrick

[Michael Hudson]

Post by kkt

Post by Michael Hudson
At least I think it's a complimentary close... I recall in one or more
stories a dismissive phrase, either spoken or written, that goes
something like "I'll be following your future success..." or "I'll be
following your progress with great interest..." Like that.
Do any of you encylopaedic types recall such a turn of phrase?

I have heard phrases like that in non-Wodehouse contexts. It's the
sort of thing a teacher would write to a graduating student, or a
supervisor to departing staff, if they are parting on good terms. I
remember it as "I will follow your future career with great interest."
But I don't think it was an exact set phrase as frozen as a grant of
knighthood.
-- Patrick

By George, I think he's got it! Thanks so much.

M

[Ian Michaud, TWS]

Post by Michael Hudson
At least I think it's a complimentary close... I recall in one or more
stories a dismissive phrase, either spoken or written, that goes
something like "I'll be following your future success..." or "I'll be
following your progress with great interest..." Like that.
Do any of you encylopaedic types recall such a turn of phrase?
Pip pip!
M

I just googled it and found a match in Chapter 20 of "Jill the Reckless"
where Otis Pilkington came to the sad conclusion that his chances of
getting Jill Mariner to agree to become Mrs. Otis Pilkington were
approximately zero.

---
"She was willing to like him, to be a sister to him, to watch his future
progress with considerable interest, but she would not marry him."
---

I'm sure there are many other examples in the canon that are still in
copyright and therefore not available on line as an e-text as "Jill" is.

The Mixer

[Michael Hudson]

Post by Ian Michaud, TWS

Post by Michael Hudson
At least I think it's a complimentary close... I recall in one or more
stories a dismissive phrase, either spoken or written, that goes
something like "I'll be following your future success..." or "I'll be
following your progress with great interest..." Like that.
Do any of you encylopaedic types recall such a turn of phrase?
Pip pip!
M

I just googled it and found a match in Chapter 20 of "Jill the Reckless"
where Otis Pilkington came to the sad conclusion that his chances of
getting Jill Mariner to agree to become Mrs. Otis Pilkington were
approximately zero.
---
"She was willing to like him, to be a sister to him, to watch his future
progress with considerable interest, but she would not marry him."
---
I'm sure there are many other examples in the canon that are still in
copyright and therefore not available on line as an e-text as "Jill" is.
The Mixer

Thanks, Ian. "Considerable" makes all the difference, doesn't it?
I'm happy to say that I went with "I will follow your future career
with considerable interest."

Cheers,

M

[Liz]

Post by Michael Hudson
At least I think it's a complimentary close... I recall in one or more
stories a dismissive phrase, either spoken or written, that goes
something like "I'll be following your future success..." or "I'll be
following your progress with great interest..." Like that.
Do any of you encylopaedic types recall such a turn of phrase?
Pip pip!
M

In A Damsel in Distress, Albert the page writes the following letter:
"Do not dispare! Remember! Fante hart never won
fair lady. I shall watch your futur progres with
considurable interest.
Your Well-Wisher."I'm sure there are other examples, and
variations.

[Michael Hudson]

Post by Liz

Post by Michael Hudson
At least I think it's a complimentary close... I recall in one or more
stories a dismissive phrase, either spoken or written, that goes
something like "I'll be following your future success..." or "I'll be
following your progress with great interest..." Like that.
Do any of you encylopaedic types recall such a turn of phrase?
Pip pip!
M

"Do not dispare! Remember! Fante hart never won
fair lady. I shall watch your futur progres with
considurable interest.
Your Well-Wisher."I'm sure there are other examples, and
variations.

There you go... "shall" would have clinched the deal. Sorry I didn't
think of that. Thanks for the research, Liz.

M

[Ken Miner]

I think I've found it, wholly by accident. In ch. 18 of _The Inimitable
Jeeves_, there is the bit where both Rosie M. Banks and Bingo's uncle
finally discover that Bertie has been posing as the author of her books.
Both of them are now gunning for Bertie, whereupon Bingo says:

"I shall watch your future career with some considerable interest"

and beetles off.

Ken