Chapter 9

It had to do with a gambling ancestor, a certain Richard Oliphant, who having lost everything at cards came one rainy night to a wayside inn without money for bed or board. By his wit and gallantry he won an invitation to supper from a dazzling young beauty just out from Holland. She was being served by her maid at a small table set apart from the others and supplied with her own linen and silver. When young Richard sat down he was handed a carved and heavy spoon with which to eat his soup—“One of the spoons you ha…