A Gentleman of Leisure (The Intrusion of Jimmy) (original) (raw)

A Gentleman of Leisure (The Intrusion of Jimmy)
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US Title: The Intrusion of Jimmy First published in US: May 11 1910 by W.J.Watt and Co., New York UK Title: A Gentleman of Leisure First published in UK: November 15 1910 by Alston Rivers, Ltd., London E-text (397K) Russian translations Lyubov' so vzlomom by I. Gurova: 2006, 2012 2024 Dzhentl'men bez opredelennykh zanyatij by M. Lakhuti: 2006 Jimmy Pitt, rich, generous, popular American bachelor, has fallen in love with an unknown girl on a transatlantic liner. He bets a friend at the Strollers Club in New York that he can break into a house. Unfortunately he selects the house of Police Captain McEachern.
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Characters Arthur Mifflin � Young leading actor who went to college with Pitt. Member of the Strollers'. Willett � Musical comedy actor, member of the Strollers' Raikes � Character actor and member of the Strollers' James Willoughby Pitt � Hero who went to Yale, is expert in jewels, ex-reporter for the News, amateur boxer and road company actor. Loves Molly. Sutton � Owner of the Majestic Theater and member of the Strollers' John McEachern � A corrupt Captain of the New York City police force who is a widower with a daughter Molly Molly McEachern � Heroine daughter of John, engaged to Lord Dreever but loves Jimmy Rastus and Tommy � Molly's bulldogs Spike Mullins � Burglar from the bowery, friend, follower and valet of Jimmy's (Spennie) Hildebrand Spencer Poynt de Burgh John Hannasyde Coombe-Crombie � 12th Earl of Dreever, 24 year old Drone under the thumb of his aunt and uncle Sir Thomas Blunt � Spennie's uncle and chairman of Blunt's Stores Ltd. Millionaire afraid of his wife. Lady Julia Blunt � Sir Thomas' wife and Spennie's aunt with a forceful manner Saunders � Butler at Dreever Castle Hargate � Professional crooked billiard player and cardsharp Charteris � Playwright, organizer and director of amateur theatricals at Dreever Castle Samuel Galer � Detective sent by McEachern, posing as his friend from New York Katie � Spennie's girlfriend whom he wishes to marry. Dixon (*)
Synopsis Jimmy Pitt, rich, generous, popular American bachelor, has fallen in love with an unknown girl on a transatlantic liner. He bets a friend at the Strollers Club in New York that he can break into a house like any Raffles. He does so and it happens to be the apartment of a crooked New York policeman (English originally, sacked from Eton, and has now changed his name: a bad hat), John McEachern, whose daughter is/was the girl on the boat. The scene changes to Dreever Castle in Shropshire, where 'Spennie', Earl of Dreever, is bossed around by his self-made millionaire uncle, Sir Thomas Blunt, MP. Lady Julia Blunt has a £20,000 'diamond' necklace (it proves to be valueless white jargoon). Spennie is being sharked at billiards, poker and picquet by one of the house party. Among the guests are John McEachern, who has made his pile by New York graft and spends it bringing his beloved daughter into good English society. He now hopes to marry her to the 12th Earl of Dreever. Spennie's uncle and aunt also hope this will be a match because they think Moily McEachern is an heiress. Jimmy Pitt is of the house party too. He wins the love and hand of Molly.Dreever Castle, a massive grey pile in Shropshire, built against raiders looming over the Welsh border, is a forerunner of Blandings, and perhaps Lady Julia and her 'diamonds' are forerunners of Lady Constanee and her diamonds in Leave it to Psmith.Source: Richard Usborne. Plum Sauce. A P G Wodehouse Companion.