Evening star., 1901-12-07
CHAPTER VII.
Back Stair RumOrs.


Back Stair RumOrs.
Lord Stratherrick in, the days Of his pros
perity had valet. This faithful creature
remained with his lordship almost to the
end of his fortune; In fact, as long as there
was anything to be made out of him.
Everybody knows that the position of va
let to nobleman may be one of considera-
BILE value on account Of the perquisites.
Thus there are bribes from tradesmen,
presents in return for custom; in cases
where the master is a gambler presents in
return for information as to his proceed
ings, horses, haunts and places where he
may be expected to lay bets; there are
presents from those who desire to escape
their creditors by joining a noblemans
household; there are many other ways of
emolument known to the profession and
practiced up and down the back stairs; the
code of honor with a gentleman's gentle
man is what the world would call tortuous.
When, however theF5ast wood was felled
and sold, when the last field fell into the
hands of the money bender, when the last
when his lordship wa3 fain to retire to the
country seat Of whicln he had sold furniture
pictures, books, plate and everything, and
to live in a corner while the house fell into
ruin. Then, of course, nobody could ex-
pect the valet to find another corner of the
house for himself. He left his master and,
being by that time pAssessed of large saw
lnss, he took a tavern in Jermyn street,
called the Grapes, well known and cele-
brated in the profession of gentlemen's gem
tleman valet, lackey, footman, coachman
retainer house of call sacred to them
selves. In this place, he established him
self and, as he knew his customers and
their inclinations, he gave them COM
Portable parlor.sasdhe acquired the repu-
tation. of brewing forthem a punch which
was far better Stronger, sweeter- and more
thoughtfully compounded than any punch
which Is made and Offered for the noblemen
and gentlemen, their masters.
Out of respect and consideration for old
times the ex-valet, the landlord Of the
Grapes Tavern, waited upon his former
master when the latter came back to Lon
don. Ihe event cofncided very nearly with
lsabels succession to her fortune, and his
lordship, who had sneered and scoffed at
his sister-in-law as the daughter of Cit
unworthy OF any consideration, now be-
ca came eager to share in her good fortune
The valet, still out of respect and gratitude
advanced his lordship small sums Of money:
they were, it is true, deplorably small, but
considering that his allowance was only
ABOUT tla month, one could hardly expect
advances of more than pound or two at
time. The honest valet however did his
best under the circumstances, and took
care that the half at least, of his former
masters allowance should fall to himself
He was useful still in some wavs. He
couid provide dinner and a bottle of wine
FOR his master when the allowance permit
TED; he could fndsant for him through the
II
vate information as to the personal cour-
age and the stay Of the gamecocks pre-
pairing for the Grays Inn cockpit, where
AMIDST sin,l 81. the mixed company Lord strather-
1t is very well known that the eagerness
with which your true gamester follows
fortune In any mode Of sport does not at
all depend upon the magnitude of the suno
at stake. The ordinary PLAYER repards
that stake as Of the first interest: the
gamester watches the history step by step
OF the event; he forgets the amount in
VolVed: money Is to him merely means OF
observing the winding ways of fortune and
OF discovering what he never succeeds In
DONG, how she works; and how he shall
deceive and outwit her While he learns
however, fortune strips him. And this and
none other is the reason why men are
known to lose thousands tens of thou
sands, In single night: in the eager fol-
of fortune they do not understand the mag
nitude of the stakes, or the effect upon
their own affairs. 1t is the man who PLAYS
to win and for nothing else, who thinks
upon the stakes, and when he has lost his
all goes out and puts a pistol to his mouth.
Lord Stratherrick had d lodging in King
street. besides st. James Square The
lodging, which was decent. but not such
as one would expect for a nobleman of his
rank. consisted Of two rooms The occu-
pant was generally dressed by noon. when
park for an hour or two taking his dinner
at the tavern Of his old servant. After
dinner he repaired to coffee house
avoiding those frequented by his old
friends, who no longer courted his society
Who cares for the company Of an old
friend when he is ruined? AT or he
rose and made. hisSway to his cockpit
where he enjoyed tie fluctuations of for.
tune quite as mucf6,as if he was losing
another fortune. Somewhere about mid
night he went back g his lodging. It was
now no monoeonoIs nia h, tsse, with no friends and
Of it which he regretted the most. He
looked back to q PLACE crowded with gem
uemen, some of wlrSm covered their ewes
inside out some watched the birds with
faces on which no sone could discern the
least emotion. thoush their whole fortune
hung on the event He. himself had been
1t was that he xegf6sted He plaved still
but among company who wept aloud
over the loss of a gainea and were broken
at the loss of tve guineas; and If they lost
more went out upon the roads round Lon
don, armed with a pair Of pistols mounted
on a horse borrowed of thief taker, and
were presently earried along the oxford
road in a. cart to Tyburn Tree,
One morning, when he had dined at the
Grapes. sitting in the best room, not among
his lacqueys. his former valet waited upon
him, with a face full Of mystery. He was
a man who knew how to excite and stimu-
late curiosity. and had generally some
scandal to impart. In appearance he was
a white-faced man somewhat corpulent.
who moved silently, as II with Difference
to his company. A perfectly welI-bred
servant in his manners, equipped with ali
the vices Of his order; its basenesses its
corruptions, Its lack of honor and Of hon
esty.
He waited upon his old master, removed
his napkin, took off the cloth, set his wine
on the table before him and behaved with
as much care as IL he were still in his
lordship's service. On the other hand. the
former master behaved with more than the
ancient haughtiness. Both acted their
parts very well. s-s'-s
my lord" he said when he had poured
out hhA first glass for him sfIorc al ].