Clouds of Glory

Well, here I am in 1911, the first Baron Moody of Hawton on Thirsk, come up from nothing (sorry Ma!) looking back on life with Jamie, who Pa and Ma adopt after he saves my life. I tell of our time at The London Hospital, where Jamie nearly dies, my first ventures into business, getting fleeced by my business associates and trying to recoup all in marrying a rich businessmans daughter. Shes keen enough, sos her Pa, until they learn what my business was, and whod been warming my bed. But then you always get narrow-minded people. Jamie is set on going as a missionary to China, which will get him out of the clutches of Becky, our landlords daughter, but not what I want until Ive got to go with him to avoid the duns at home.What we find when we get to Shanghai is a war the Emperors troops against the Red Turban rebels. Not that it affects us and the Settlement, until Jamie saves the life of a Manchu Princes son and I take a solid silver salver in lieu of fee, as is quite right and proper. Well Jamie aint the practical one, but in no time Ive invested the proceeds, which helps Jamie set up his first dispensary for the coolies and such. Then theres business I do in places outside Shanghai we aint supposed to go, like Swatow, where you has to anchor seven miles off-shore for safety but where I see opportunities I take, And where Jamie rescues a cargo of captured children. Doing very well nicely, I go next to Ningpo, more business opportunities, so the silver dollars come rolling in, but where theres the craftiest Mandarin. At Ningpo who do I meet, but my boyhood love, my dear Dolly out in China like Jamie, for the sake of the heathen Chinese. She promises to be mine but then the Mandarin eggs on the locals to kill the lot of us Hairy Barbarians. I only just get away, with the women and children. When I return, with a gunboat, theres no sign of Jamie but just when I have given up hope, there he is. In Dollys arms.Well, I wont go on. You will just have to read it yourself.

Dettagli