Ukridge Stories · Chapter
Ukridge and the Old Stepper explained
Ukridge recounts to Corky his disastrous attempt to ingratiate himself with Sir Edward Bayliss, a jute magnate, at his aunt's cottage in Market Deeping.
What happens
Ukridge recounts to Corky his disastrous attempt to ingratiate himself with Sir Edward Bayliss, a jute magnate, at his aunt's cottage in Market Deeping. His scheme unravels when he is caught stealing roses, a sundial, and a summerhouse from the neighboring Colonel's garden, leading to a confrontation with the Colonel (the Vulture) and Sir Edward.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Manipulation
Ukridge's elaborate scheme to impress Sir Edward involves stealing and lying about an uncle, showcasing his manipulative tactics.
Social Class and Appearances
Ukridge's theft of a suit and his efforts to appear respectable highlight the importance of social standing and appearances.
The Absurdity of Modern Life
The escalating absurdity of Ukridge's thefts—roses, a sundial, and a summerhouse—underscores the comic chaos of his schemes.
Characters to notice
- Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge
Narrates his failed scheme to secure a job from Sir Edward Bayliss, involving theft of garden items.
- Corky
The narrator and listener to Ukridge's story; has his new suit stolen by Ukridge.
- Sir Edward Bayliss
The jute magnate Ukridge tries to impress; present during the confrontation.
- The Vulture
Colonel Philip, the angry neighbor who discovers his roses, sundial, and summerhouse stolen.
- Myrtle
Sir Edward's niece, to whom Ukridge gives the stolen sundial.
- George Tupper
Lent Ukridge a fiver; mentioned as a source of funds.
- Julia Ukridge
Ukridge's aunt who lent him the cottage and urged him to seek a job from Sir Edward.
- Tuppy
Another source of funds for Ukridge; mentioned in the narrative.
Key passages
“Corky, old horse, this is the most amazing thing I have heard in the whole course of my existence. I’m astounded. You could knock me down with a feather.”
Ukridge expresses shock at Corky's complaint about the stolen suit.
Ukridge's characteristic dramatic reaction to a minor issue.
“I wish I had one.”
Corky sarcastically wishes he had a feather to knock Ukridge down.
Corky's dry humor in response to Ukridge's exaggeration.
“This suit?—this shabby, worn-out suit?—you don’t really mean to stand there and tell me that you actually wanted this ragged, seedy, battered old suit?”
Ukridge feigns innocence about taking Corky's new suit.
Ukridge's attempt to deflect blame by pretending the suit was old.
“Why, upon my honest Sam, when I came on it while rummaging through your belongings yesterday, I thought it was just something you had discarded years ago and forgotten to give to the deserving poor.”
Ukridge claims he thought the suit was discarded junk.
Ukridge's shameless excuse for theft.
“Spring, coming to London in a burst of golden sunshine, was calling imperiously to all young men to rejoice in their youth, to put on their new herringbone-pattern lounge suits and go out and give the populace an eyeful: and this I had been prevented from doing by the fact that my new suit had mysteriously disappeared.”
Corky laments that he cannot enjoy spring in his new suit because Ukridge stole it.
Corky's poetic complaint about the theft.
“After a separation of twenty-four hours, I had just met it in Piccadilly with Ukridge inside it.”
Corky spotted Ukridge wearing his stolen suit in Piccadilly.
The moment of discovery.
