A Gentleman of Leisure · Chapter
A Lesson in Piquet explained
Lord Dreever, brooding over his forced engagement to Molly and his lack of independence, seeks shelter from rain in a summerhouse where he finds Hargate playing patience.
What happens
Lord Dreever, brooding over his forced engagement to Molly and his lack of independence, seeks shelter from rain in a summerhouse where he finds Hargate playing patience. To pass the time, he teaches Hargate piquet and loses twenty pounds. Later, Hargate tries to bribe Dreever to get rid of Jimmy Pitt by canceling the debt, but Dreever indignantly refuses, asserting he will pay the debt tomorrow. After the confrontation, Dreever receives a note from Molly that distresses him.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Wealth
Dreever's financial dependence on his uncle and the importance of money in maintaining his lifestyle are central; the twenty-pound debt and the bribe highlight the power dynamics of wealth.
Deception and Appearances
Hargate's attempt to manipulate Dreever through the debt and the bribe, and Dreever's internal conflict between his pride and his financial constraints, underscore themes of deceit and maintaining appearances.
Humor and Irony
The irony of Dreever teaching piquet to Hargate, only to lose money and be manipulated, and his self-image as a 'man of blood and iron' contrasted with his weak position, provide comedic elements.
Characters to notice
- Spennie Dreever
Broods over his forced engagement and lack of independence; teaches Hargate piquet and loses twenty pounds; refuses Hargate's bribe to expel Jimmy Pitt; receives a troubling note from Molly.
- Hargate
Found playing patience in the summerhouse; learns piquet from Dreever and wins twenty pounds; attempts to bribe Dreever to get rid of Jimmy Pitt, but is rebuffed.
- Jimmy Pitt
Mentioned as the object of Hargate's dislike; Dreever defends him as a good chap and refuses to expel him.
- Molly McEachern
Sends a note to Dreever via Saunders, which distresses him upon reading.
- Sir Thomas Blunt
Referenced as Dreever's uncle who forced the engagement and controls the finances; Dreever hopes to extract money from him.
Key passages
“One is never at one’s best and sunniest when one has been forced by a ruthless uncle into abandoning the girl one loves and becoming engaged to another to whom one is indifferent.”
A person cannot be cheerful when compelled by a harsh uncle to give up the woman they love and become engaged to someone they do not care for.
Reflects Dreever's discontent with his forced engagement.
“Extracting the precious ore from Sir Thomas hitherto had been like pulling back-teeth out of a bulldog.”
Getting money from Sir Thomas had always been extremely difficult.
Describes Dreever's struggle to obtain funds from his uncle.
“He felt as a toil-worn lion might feel if...”
Hargate felt like a weary lion that unexpectedly finds a meal.
Hargate's delight at Dreever offering to play piquet.
“He was Spennie Dreever, the man of blood and iron, the man with whom it was best not to trifle.”
He saw himself as a tough, formidable person not to be messed with.
Dreever's self-aggrandizing thought after standing up to Hargate.
“Oh, my sainted aunt! ... Now I am in the soup!”
Oh no! Now I am in serious trouble.
Dreever's reaction upon reading Molly's note.
