Jeeves, having returned from Brinkley Court where he served the Travers household for a week on the bidding of Aunt Dahlia, informs Bertie of the company gathered there, amongst which Sir Watkyn Bassett, his daughter Madeline, Stiffy Byng and her dog Bartholomew and Gussie Fink-Nottle. Bertie's uncle Tom Travers was in a bad mood because Sir Watkyn showed him a black amber statuette he had recently acquired, provoking Tom´s envy as a fellow collectionneur. Bertie goes out for a lunch date at the Ritz and dons a blue alpino cap with a pink feather, to the shuddering horror of Jeeves, stoutly disregarded by Bertie.