Ukridge Stories · Chapter
The Long Arm of Looney Coote explained
The narrator encounters his old schoolmate Looney Coote at the races, whose superstitious betting habits and recent pickpocketing incident lead to a discussion about omens and misfortune.
What happens
The narrator encounters his old schoolmate Looney Coote at the races, whose superstitious betting habits and recent pickpocketing incident lead to a discussion about omens and misfortune. Later, at the Old Wrykinian dinner, Ukridge boasts of his newfound wealth from a sleeping partnership in a bookie's business, but the evening takes a turn when Looney Coote reveals that the car he borrowed from Ukridge was mistaken for stolen, leading to a police search. The misunderstanding is resolved when Ukridge finds an unsent explanatory letter in his pocket, and Looney magnanimously forgives him, revealing that the incident inspired a winning bet on a horse named Stolen Goods, which bankrupted the bookie Isaac O'Brien—Ukridge's own firm.
Themes in this chapter
Superstition and Omen
Looney Coote's entire betting strategy is based on interpreting everyday events as omens, such as a servant's broken leg or a car being mistaken for stolen, leading to his windfall.
Deception and Manipulation
Ukridge's involvement with Isaac O'Brien's bookmaking business is kept secret to preserve his social standing, and the misunderstanding about the car nearly leads to a police investigation.
Friendship and Loyalty
Despite the mix-up over the car, Looney Coote forgives Ukridge and the two remain on good terms, highlighting the enduring bonds of old school friendships.
Characters to notice
- Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge
Attends the Old Wrykinian dinner in borrowed dress clothes, boasts of his sleeping partnership in Isaac O'Brien's bookmaking business, and later discovers he forgot to mail a letter explaining the car loan to Looney Coote.
- Corky
The narrator, who meets Looney Coote at the races, accompanies Ukridge to the dinner, and observes the unfolding misunderstanding about the borrowed car.
- Looney Coote
An old schoolmate known for his superstitions; his pocket is picked at the races, he borrows Ukridge's car which is mistaken for stolen, and he later wins a large bet on Stolen Goods based on the omen.
- Isaac O'Brien
The bookmaker with whom Ukridge is a sleeping partner; he is bankrupted by paying out Looney Coote's winning bet on Stolen Goods.
Key passages
“I had a tenner on My Valet.”
I bet ten pounds on a horse named My Valet.
Looney Coote explains his losing bet at the races.
“My pocket has been picked.”
Someone has stolen my wallet.
Looney Coote discovers his notecase is missing at Sandown.
“I have turned the corner, old man. Last Saturday we cleaned up to an extraordinary extent at Sandown.”
My fortunes have improved dramatically; we made a lot of money at the races last Saturday.
Ukridge boasts about his success from the bookmaking partnership.
“I crammed on thirty quid at twenty-five to one.”
I bet thirty pounds at odds of 25 to 1.
Looney Coote describes his winning bet on Stolen Goods.