Mulliner Nights is a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. First published in the United Kingdom on 17 January 1933 by Herbert Jenkins, and in the United States on 15 February 1933 by Doubleday, Doran. The stories in the collection were originally published in magazines in the UK and the US between 1930 and 1932. The book is the third collection featuring Mr Mulliner, who narrates all nine stories contained in the book, telling tall tales of his diverse family. Contents "The Smile that Wins" US: American, October 1931 UK: Strand, February 1932 See "The Smile that Wins". "The Story of Webster" US: American, February 1932 (as "The Bishop's Cat") UK: Strand, May 1932 (as "The Bishop's Cat") Plot Mr Mulliner says that many cats have an air of superiority, and tells a story which features a cat and Mr Mulliner's cousin Edward's son, Lancelot. 25-year-old Lancelot was orphaned at an early age and was raised by his Uncle Theodore, the saintly Dean of Bolsover. Lancelot becomes a portrait artist and takes a studio in Chelsea. The Dean disapproves and thinks Lancelot should become a curate, which leads to distance between them. Lancelot gets engaged to poet Gladys Bingley. His uncle accepts the post of Bishop of Bongo-Bongo in West Africa and sends a letter to Lancelot telling him to look after his cat Webster. Lancelot hopes that if he treats the cat well then he may be able to get enough money from his rich uncle to marry Gladys. The Dean believes that Webster is an upstanding cat and he will inspire Lancelot to become less bohemian and more respectable. Webster, a large black cat, is very austere, and Lancelot feels pressured by Webster's judgmental gaze to act and dress according to proper etiquette. Two of Lancelot's friends become concerned and try to tell him not to give in to the cat, but it is no use. Webster does not appear to approve of Gladys, so Lancelot gets engaged to Brenda Carberry-Pirbright, who seems prim and unpleasant, to please Webster. Lancelot's friends wire Gladys Bingley, who is away in France, to come reason with Lancelot. She confronts him about his engagement to Brenda. He tells he does not want to marry Brenda but feels he must do what Webster wishes. She tells him to come see her only if he chooses her over Brenda, and leaves. Lancelot,