The Race for Love

AUTHOR’S NOTEIn 1890, five years after the setting of this novel, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Gordon Cumming, a close friend of the Prince of Wales, was detected cheating at baccarat at a house party at Tranby Croft in Yorkshire. Accused by other guests. Sir William signed a document never to play cards again in consideration of all those gentlemen present and to ‘preserve silence’ as to what they thought had occurred. But gossip spread even to Paris and Gordon Cumming threatened to bring an action for slander against his original accusers. However, when he asked leave to retire from the Army, the Adjutant General rejected his application and ordered him to appear before a Military Court. In due course not only most of the distinguished guests at the house party were subpoenaed to give evidence at the trial but also the Prince of Wales. Although Sir William always protested his innocence and his leading Counsel believed wholeheartedly in him, the Lord Chief Justice made a strongly biased speech against him. The verdict was guilty. Dismissed from the Army, expelled from his Clubs and boycotted by Society, Gordon Cumming once said to his daughter, “Among a host of acquaintances I thought I had perhaps twenty friends, but not one of them ever spoke to me again.” The shows at The Gaiety Theatre at the end of the century gradually ceased to be musical burlesque and became musical comedy. Little Jack Sheppard was a smash hit with Nellie Farren in the title lead and Miss Wadman also playing a male part.