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"Without the Option" is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse, and features the young gentleman Bertie Wooster and his valet
Jeeves Jeeves (born Reginald Jeeves, nicknamed Reggie) is a fictional character in a series of comedic short stories and novels by English author P. G. Wodehouse. Jeeves is the highly competent valet of a wealthy and idle young Londoner named Bertie W ...
. The story was published in the ''
Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely ...
'' in the United States in June 1925, and in '' The Strand Magazine'' in the United Kingdom in July 1925. The story was also included in the 1925 collection '' Carry On, Jeeves''. In the story, Bertie must take the place of his friend Oliver "Sippy" Sipperley at the country house of the unfriendly Pringle family after he inadvertently gets Sippy arrested.


Plot

In court, Bertie is ordered to pay a fine of five pounds; Bertie does not have money on him, so he asks Jeeves to pay the fine. Sippy, who assaulted the police, is ordered to serve a sentence of thirty days without the option of a fine. Bertie recounts how this happened. Though he normally drinks in moderation, Bertie lets himself go on Boat Race night; while celebrating, he saw his friend Oliver "Sippy" Sipperley. Sippy is an author, but relies on an allowance from his Aunt Vera. He was dejected because he has to spend three weeks with his aunt's unpleasant friends, the Pringle family. To improve his morale, Bertie suggested Sippy steal a policeman's helmet. Sippy took this advice, and consequently, both Sippy and Bertie were arrested. Guilt-ridden, Bertie visits Sippy in prison. Sippy is worried because he will not be able to visit the Pringles. Bertie returns home and poses this problem to Jeeves. Later, Jeeves suggests that Bertie visit the Pringles, pretending to be Sippy. Bertie is reluctant, but goes after Jeeves tells him that his Aunt Agatha wants to confront Bertie about his arrest. Bertie stays with the Pringles. They are all unfriendly. The daughter, Heloise, greatly resembles Honoria Glossop; Bertie learns from Jeeves that she is Honoria's cousin. Heloise flirts with Bertie, and he narrowly escapes her. Thereafter, he uses the water pipe outside his window to move around, to avoid Heloise. He does well, until Sir Roderick Glossop visits and recognizes Bertie. Bertie confesses that he is not Sippy. Jeeves advises that they go see Sippy's aunt and tell her what has happened before she hears it from the Pringles. After a long drive, they reach Miss Sipperley. Bertie explains to her that he told Sippy to steal a policeman's helmet. Surprisingly, Miss Sipperley is pleased. Later, Jeeves tells Bertie that Miss Sipperley is prejudiced against police because the local constable has been bothering her. Jeeves gave five pounds to this constable, who is actually his cousin Egbert. Bertie gladly gives Jeeves ten pounds.


Publication history

The story was illustrated by George Wright in the ''Saturday Evening Post'', and by
A. Wallis Mills Arthur Wallis Mills (often abbreviated A. Wallis Mills, as well as A. W. Mills) (1878–1940) was a British artist. As well as traditional art forms, Mills also produced artwork and occasional cartoons for '' Punch Magazine'', ''The Strand Maga ...
in the ''Strand''. The 1981 collection ''Wodehouse on Crime'', which featured crime-related Wodehouse stories, included "Without the Option".


Adaptations

The story was adapted for an episode of '' The World of Wooster''. The episode, titled "Jeeves and the Stand-in for Sippy", was the second episode of the third series. It was originally broadcast in the UK on 13 October 1967. This story was not adapted for any ''
Jeeves and Wooster ''Jeeves and Wooster'' is a British comedy-drama television series adapted by Clive Exton from P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves#Jeeves canon, "Jeeves" stories. It aired on the ITV (TV network), ITV network from 22 April 1990 to 20 June 1993, with the ...
'' episode. However elements of the plot, namely Bertie being fined 5 pounds, and relating the story of stealing a policeman's hat, are utilised in the programme's first episode, ''Jeeves Takes Charge''.


References

;Notes ;Sources * * *


External links


Russian Wodehouse Society
Information about ''Carry on, Jeeves'' and the stories which it contains {{DEFAULTSORT:Without the Option 1925 short stories Short stories by P. G. Wodehouse Works originally published in The Saturday Evening Post