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STORIES
STORIES
BY ENGLISH AUTHORS IN ITALY
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STORIES
A FAITHFUL RETAINER
BY JAMES PAYN
When I lived in the country；which was a long time ago；our nearest
neighbours were the Luscombes。 They were very great personages in the
country indeed； and the family were greatly 〃respected〃； though not； so far
as I could discern； for any particular reason； except from their having been
there for several generations。 People are supposed to improve； like wine；
from keepingeven if they are rather 〃ordinary〃 at starting； and the
Luscombes； at the time I knew them； were considered quite a 〃vintage〃
family。 They had begun in Charles II。's time； and dated their descent from
greatness in the female line。 That they had managed to keep a great estate
not very much impaired so long was certainly a proof of great cleverness；
since there had been many spend…thrifts among them； but fortunately there
had been a miser or two； who had restored the average； and their fortunes。
Mr。 Roger Luscombe； the present proprietor； was neither the one nor
the other； but he was inclined to frugality； and no wonder； a burnt child
dreads the fire； even though he may have had nothing to do with lighting it
himself； and his father had kicked down a good many thousands with the
help of 〃the bones〃 （as dice were called in his day） and 〃the devil's books〃
（which was the name for cards with those that disapproved of them） and
race…horses； there was plenty left； but it made the old gentleman careful
and especially solicitous to keep it。 There was no stint； however； of any
kind at the Court； which to me； who lived in the little vicarage of Dalton
with my father； seemed a palace。
It was indeed a very fine place； with statues in the hall and pictures in
the gallery and peacocks on the terrace。 Lady Jane； the daughter of a
wealthy peer； who had almost put things on their old footing with her
ample dowry； was a very great lady； and had been used； I was told； to an
even more splendid home； but to me； who had no mother； she was simply
the kindest and most gracious woman I had ever known。
My connection with the Luscombes arose from their only son Richard
being my father's pupil。 We were both brought up at home； but for very
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STORIES
different reasons。 In my case it was from economy： the living was small
and our family was large； though； as it happened； I had no brothers。
Richard was too precious to his parents to be trusted to the tender mercies
of a public school。 He was in delicate health； not so much natural to him
as caused by an excess of carecoddling。 Though he and I were very good
friends； unless when we were quarreling； it must be owned that he was a
spoiled boy。
There is a good deal of nonsense talked of young gentlemen who are
brought up from their cradles in an atmosphere of flattery /not/ being
spoiled； but unless they are angelswhich is a very exceptional case it
cannot be otherwise。 Richard Luscombe was a good fellow in many ways；
liberal with his money （indeed； apt to be lavish）； and kind… hearted； but
self…willed； effeminate； and impulsive。 He had also which was a source
of great alarm and grief to his fathera marked taste for speculation。
After the age of 〃alley tors and commoneys；〃 of albert…rock and hard…
bake； in which we both gambled frightfully； I could afford him no
opportunities of gratifying this passion； but if he could get a little money
〃on〃 anything； there was nothing that pleased him betternot that he cared
for the money； but for the delight of winning it。 The next moment he
would give it away to a beggar。 Numbers of good people look upon
gambling with even greater horror than it deserves； because they cannot
understand this； the attraction of risk； and the wild joy of 〃pulling off〃
something when the chances are against one； are unknown to them。 It is
the same with the love of liquor。 Richard Luscombe had not a spark of that
（his father left him one of the best cellars in England； but he never touches
even a glass of claret after dinner； 〃I should as soon think；〃 he says； 〃of
eating when I am not hungry〃）； but he dearly liked what he called a
〃spec。〃 Never shall I forget the first time he realised anything that could be
termed a stake。
When he was about sixteen； he and I had driven over to some little
country races a few miles away from Dalton； without； I fear； announcing
our intention of so doing。 Fresh air was good for 〃our dear Richard；〃 and
since pedestrian exercise （which he also hated） exhausted him； he had a
groom and dog…cart always at his own disposal。 It was a day of great
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STORIES
excitement for me； who had never before seen a race…course。 The flags； the
grand stand （a rude erection of planks； which came down； by…the…bye； the
next year during the race for the cup； and reduced the sporting population）；
the insinuating gipsies； the bawling card…sellers； and especially the shining
horses with their twisted manes； all excited my admiration。
I was well acquainted with them in fiction； and these illustrations of
the books I loved so well delighted me。 Richard； who had read less and
seen more； was bent on business。
He was tall for his age； but very slight and youthful…looking； and the
contrast of his appearance with that of the company in the little ring；
composed as it was of a choice selection of the roughest blackguards in
England； was very striking。
Many of these knew who he was； and were very glad to see him； but
only one of the book…makers secured his patronage。 The fact was； Master
Richard had but one five…pound note to lay； he had been saving up his
pocket…money for weeks for this very purpose； and he took ten to one
about an outsider； 〃Don Sebastian；〃a name I shall remember when all
other historical knowledge has departed from me；not because he knew
anything of the horse； but because the longest odds were laid against him。
I didn't like the look of the 〃gentleman sportsman〃 who took custody
of that five…pound note； but Richard （who had never seen him before）
assured me； with his usual confidence； that he was 〃straight as a die〃 and
〃as honest as the day。〃
The race excited me exceedingly； Richard had lent me a field…glass
（for everything he had was in duplicate； if not triplicate）； and I watched
the progress of that running rainbow with a beating heart。 At first Yellow
Cap （the Don） seemed completely out of it； the last of all； but presently he
began to creep up； and as they drew near the winning…post； shouts of
〃Yellow Cap wins！〃 〃Yellow Cap wins！〃 rent the air。 He did win by a head；
and with a well…pleased flush on my face at my friend's marvellous good
fortune； I turned to congratulate him。 He was gone。 The tumult and
confusion were excessive； but looking toward the exit gate； I just caught a
glimpse of the book…maker passing rapidly through it； and then of Richard
in pursuit of him。
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A stout young farmer； whom I knew； was standing behind me； and in a
few hurried words I told him what had happened。 〃Come with me；〃 he
said； and off we ran； as though we had been entered for the cup ourselves。
The other two were already a field ahead； and far away from the course；
but； fast as the book…maker ran； the delicate Richard had come up with
him。 I could imagine how pumped he was； but the idea of having been
swindled by this scoundrel； who was running off with his five…pound note；
as well as the fifty pounds he owed him； had no doubt lent him wings。 It
could not； however； lend him strength； nor teach him the art of self…
defence； and after a few moments； passed doubtless in polite request and
blunt refusal； we saw the miscre