The Gentleman

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My name is Lionel Savage, a twenty-two-year-old poet who no longer loves his wife. After six months of marriage, I find my life intolerable and contemplate suicide. My troubles began when our butler, Simmons, informed me of our financial ruin. I had whimsically expressed a desire to buy a boat to sail the seas, but Simmons dashed my dreams, revealing our lack of funds. My heart sank as he explained that my penchant for books had led to our downfall. With no money and a fearsome sister, Lizzie, in boarding school, I realized I needed a new source of income. As a gentleman, I dismissed trades and commerce as beneath me. I considered law and medicine but found them distasteful. Ultimately, I decided to pursue marriage as a means to secure my future. I sought wealthy families, disregarding social status, which led to some bizarre encounters. The eccentric Babingtons were particularly unsuitable, despite my friendship with Sir Francis Babington, who humorously questioned my motives. Thus, I embarked on a quest for a suitable match, navigating the absurdities of high society in search of financial stability.