Ukridge is in need of money again and complains to his friend Corky about the number of flag-girls who touch him for sixpence here, a shilling there. Musing on this he invites Corky to his aunt's place the next Tuesday to help guard her snuff-box collection while a bazaar is held in the gardens.
On the day, Corky soon discovers that Ukridge has found a way to make money, one which is almost honest. But then a curate pops in to object to the scheme and Ukridge's aunt makes an unexpected entrance ...
| S. F. Ukridge | a chancer |
| Julia Ukridge | his aunt |
| James 'Corky' Corcoran | his friend |
| Mr Dawson | claims to be from Scotland Yard |
| Barter | Julia Ukridge's butler |
| a curate |
First published 21 November 1925 in the Saturday Evening Post (US).
Also published December 1925 in the Strand magazine.
'... a couple of bob or half a crown ...'
- two shillings and two shillings and sixpence respectively. See old money for more on pre-decimal currency.
Church Place
- a road off Piccadilly.
Prince's
- a restaurant in Jermyn Street, in the St. James's area of central London.
Jubilee Handicap
- originally a mile and a quarter (reduced to a mile in 1979) handicap for three years olds and upwards, and run at Kempton Park in May since 1887. It is no longer a prestige race.
Pro Bono Publico
- for the public good.
'I began to feel like Horatius at the Bridge.'
- Horatius defended Rome against the Etruscan army by holding a narrow bridge against them, first with two companions, then alone and despite being wounded.
'These are the times that try men's souls.'
- Thomas Paine, opening words of a series of pamphlets The American Crisis.