Flashman Papers - Flashman Part 33

By G.o.d, though, I knew it was. Or I thought I knew. To the devil with the consequences, no little ninny in petticoats was going to do this to me.

"Elspeth," says I, turning.

"Hang it carefully, now, when you've brushed it. There. Yes, my love?"

"Elspeth ..."

"Oh, Harry, you look so strong and fierce, on my word. I don't think I shall feel easy in my mind when I see all these fancy London ladies making eyes at you." And she pouted very pretty and touched her finger on my lips.

"Elspeth, I-"

"Oh, I had nearly forgot - you had better take some money with you. Susan, bring me my purse. In case of any need that may arise, you know. Twenty guineas, my love."

"Much obliged," says I.

What the devil, you have to make do as best you can; if the tide's there, swim with it and catch on to whatever offers. You only go by once.

"Will twenty be sufficient, do you think?"

"Better make it forty."

(At this point the first packet of The Flashman Papers ends abruptly).

By the same author

THE FLASHMAN PAPERS.

Royal Flash

Flash for Freedom!

Flashman at the Charge

Flashman in the Great Game

Flashman's Lady

Flashman and the Redskins

Flashman and the Dragon

Flashman and the Mountain of Light

Flashman and the Angel of the Lord

Mr American

The Pyrates

The Candlema.s.s Road

SHORT STORIES.

The General Danced at Dawn

McAuslan in the Rough The Sheikh and the Dustbin

HISTORY.

The Steel Bonnets: The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers

AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Quartered Safe Out Here

Notes.

1. Lord Brougham's speech in May, 1839, "lashed the Queen . . . with unsparing severity" (Greville) and caused great controversy.

2. Lady Flora Hastings, Maid of Honour to the d.u.c.h.ess of Kent, was believed to be pregnant, until medical examination proved that she was not. She won great popular sympathy, but the young Queen, who had been bitterly hostile towards her, suffered dramatically in public esteem.

3. Captain John Reynolds, a particular b.u.t.t of Cardigan's, was the centre of the notorious Black Bottle affair, in which his resignation was demanded because he was believed to have ordered a bottle of porter in the mess on guest night. Back

4. Cardigan had, in fact, served in India, when he went out to take command of the 11th at Cawnpore in 1837, but had spent only a few weeks with the regiment.

5. Cardigan was a favourite target of the newspapers, and especially of the Morning Chronicle (not the Post, as Flashman says). The quarrel referred to here is probably the one in which Cardigan, in response to a press attack, threatened to a.s.sault the editor. For details of this and other incidents, and of Lord Cardigan's military career, sec Cecil Woodham-Smith's The Reason Why.

6. Choice of weapons. In fact this did not necessarily rest with the injured party, but was normally settled by mutual agreement.

7. Mr Attwood, M.P. presented the Chartists' first pet.i.tion for political reform to the Commons in July 1839. In that year there were outbreaks of Chartist violence; on November 24 people were killed at Newport.

8. Mr Abercrombie's use of the word "chief is inexplicable, since Sir Colin Campbell's command of the 93rd came much later. Of course, Abercrombie may have served with him in Spain.

9. Military service with the East India Company's regiments was considered socially inferior to service in the army proper, and Flashman must have been conscious of this, which possibly accounts for his casual reference to it. The Company at this time drew its artillery, engineer, and infantry officers from the Addis...o...b.. training establishment; cavalry officers, however, could be appointed direct by the Company's Directors. Cardigan, who seems to have had a liking for Flashman (his judgement of men, when he condescended to use it, was deplorable) may well have had influence with the Board.

10. The Company did not believe in maintaining houses for transients and visitors; they were expected to find hospitality with British residents or pay their own lodgings.

11. Avitabile. Flashman's description of this extraordinary soldier of fortune is accurate; the Italian was noted as a stern, just administrator and intrepid soldier.