If he gripped it well enough, Aldous thought, he might be able to use the shaft of the cane to pull himself upwards—but he was already feeling decidedly ungallant, and the thought that he might inadvertently pull the young lady (at fault or not, she was still a young lady) back down swiftly put the kibosh on that. With a murmur of thanks, he accepted his cane, but did not rush to get up.

This would not be graceful; he did not need an audience.

"It is merely a bit of chaos in my evening, that's all," he insisted weakly.