Jeeves could appreciate brevity in battle, at least. What he appreciated less was being handed a bizarre sort of toy and told that it was a weapon. The valet took one of the bats, mouth a thin line. He felt absolutely ridiculous, but many improvised weaponry would be equally humiliating. At least he's been assured this will work. "I'm sure it's as you say," he replied, pushing down his annoyance.

He stepped back and took a few experimental swings and thrusts with the bat before nodding to himself. "I believe that, as Virgil surmised, I am now ad utrumque paratus. Shall we be off to route the creatures?"