Flashman’s account of Lola’s behaviour, and his assessment of her character, seem both authentic and fair. His enthusiasm for her looks and personality were generally shared (even by his old Indian acquaintance, the Hon. Emily Eden); there is ample evidence of her promiscuity, her optimistic cheerfulness, her sudden furious rages, and her tendency to physical violence—the men she horse-whipped included a Berlin policeman, the boots of a Munich hotel, and the editor of the Ballarat Times, Australia. But none of her contemporaries has left such an intimate portrait of her as Flashman has, or come closer to explaining the magnetism she exerted. And in spite of his conduct towards her, he obviously respected her deeply.

NOTES

1. The Minor St James Club may have been new to Flashman in 1842, but it was notorious to fashionable London. Its proprietor, a Mr Bond, was successfully sued in that year by a disgruntled punter who received £3500 in respect of his losses. (See L. J. Ludovici’s The Itch for Play.)

2. Mr Wilson’s performances were a great success all over England, especially with exiled Scots like Mrs Flashman. His repertoire included “A Nicht wi’ Burns”, and a lecture on the ’45 Rebellion, as well as popular songs. He died during a tour of the United States.

3. Horse-drawn omnibuses had been running in London since Flashman was a small boy; possibly he is referring to a new service. Their conductors, or “cads,” had a reputation for violence and obscenity which lingers in the word to this day.

4. Raiding of gambling-hells was common after the Police Act of 1839, which permitted forced entry. Flashman’s observations on the proprietors’ precautions and their right to sue the police are accurate. (See Ludovici.)

5. Hughes’ passing reference to Speedicut certainly brackets him with Flashman, and can therefore be taken to be highly uncomplimentary. Flashman shows him in a new light, which prompts the thought that Speedicut may have been one (or both) of the anonymous companions in “Tom Brown” who spared the fags in the blanket-tossing episode and was later in favour of only partially roasting Tom before the fire.

6. The “barbed wire” comparison must have occurred to Flashman at some later date; it was not in common use before the 1870’s.

7. Nick Ward claimed the championship of England after beating Deaf James Ward claimed the championship of England after beating Deaf James Burke in September, 1840, and Ben Caunt in February, 1841. He lost a return bout with Caunt three months later.

8. The second Marquis of Conyngham was among the victims fleeced at Mr Bond’s Minor Club; he lost at least £500 on two occasions in 1842.