More interesting. Story has moved to Ben Kipling, money launderer. Threat of violence to Kipling. Author also does a good job describing the hard-to-get-your head around massiveness of the new wealth. Class distinctions between regular rich people and unimaginably rich people and regular people. Our survivor, Scott the Painter, is now staying with another fantastically wealthy person--Layla. Art lover, she can make his career . . . but he is standoffish about her power. Still a bit shell-shocked, though this is one of the least convincing aspects of the book.
February 1895 (Alice died in 1892) Money problems, jealousy of Wilde; time spent with Lord Wolseley1; off to Ireland to lick his wounds; Irish unrest--Irish landlords boycott all social events; much time spent with manservant Hammond (homosexual attraction again); fancy dress ball, appalling to James, who is only happy in company of Hammond, though Hammond remains a servant and no more; little girl alone on the grounds--inspiration for Turn of the Screw?; conflict with Webster who alludes to Wilde's successful play and HJ's failure; Wolseley was an Anglo-Irish officer in the British Army . He became one of the most influential and admired British generals after a series of successes in Canada, West Africa, and Egypt, followed by a central role in modernizing the British Army in promoting efficiency. He served in Burma, the Crimean War , the Indian Mutiny , China, Canada and widely throughout Africa—including his Ashanti campaign (18...
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