# Psmith Makes a Discovery explained — Psmith in the City

> Chapter companion for Psmith in the City by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

After a tedious evening at Mr. Waller's home, where Mike suffers through Comrade Prebble's endless socialist lecture, Psmith reveals a valuable discovery: a record of the Tulse Hill Parliament containing fiery socialist speeches made by Mr. Bickersdyke twenty years ago, which could be used to embarrass him politically.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Performance and Identity

Psmith and Mike perform roles as interested socialists at Mr. Waller's gathering, while Bickersdyke's past socialist identity contrasts with his current Unionist ambitions.

### Humor and Absurdity

The chapter's comedy arises from Mike's suffering during Prebble's lecture, Psmith's deadpan commentary, and the absurdity of using old speeches as political leverage.

### Ambition and Career

Psmith's discovery of Bickersdyke's past speeches is a strategic move to protect his and Mike's positions at the bank, highlighting career maneuvering.

## Character check-ins

### Psmith

Psmith secures the Tulse Hill Parliament record from Mr. Waller, recognizing its potential leverage against Mr. Bickersdyke.

### Mike Jackson

Mike endures Comrade Prebble's tedious lecture and later expresses his frustration to Psmith, but becomes intrigued by the discovery of Bickersdyke's past speeches.

### Mr. Waller

Mr. Waller hosts the evening, lends Psmith the Tulse Hill Parliament record, and remains oblivious to Psmith's ulterior motives.

### Prebble

Comrade Prebble delivers a lengthy socialist lecture that bores Mike, and is invited to visit Psmith and Mike's flat.

### Mr. Richards

Young Mr. Richards is present at the gathering, moodily looking through a photograph album, and leaves in silence.

### Mr. Bickersdyke

Bickersdyke is revealed to have been a socialist speaker in the Tulse Hill Parliament, a fact Psmith intends to use against him.

## Key lines

> If being your confidential secretary and adviser is going to let me in for any more of that sort of thing, you can jolly well accept my resignation.

Mike threatens to quit as Psmith's assistant if he has to endure another evening like this.

_Mike expresses his frustration after the tedious socialist meeting._

> It is the record of the meetings of the Tulse Hill Parliament... A faithful record of all they said, all the votes of confidence they passed in the Government, and also all the nasty knocks they gave it from time to time.

Psmith describes the scrapbook of the Tulse Hill Parliament's proceedings.

_Psmith reveals the nature of the book he borrowed from Mr. Waller._

> If any tactless person were to publish those very able speeches made by Comrade Bickersdyke when a bulwark of the Tulse Hill Parliament, our revered chief would be more or less caught bending... as regards his chances of getting in as Unionist candidate at Kenningford.

Psmith notes that Bickersdyke's old socialist speeches could ruin his political campaign.

_Psmith explains the leverage the record provides against Bickersdyke._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xviii-psmith-makes-a-discovery
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters