Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/95

 would set to work upon them for a couple of hours, oblivious of all surroundings. In this fashion the journey would be accomplished, and he would reach his destination perfectly fresh and anxious to join in any festivity that was taking place. It is entirely characteristic of him that on one occasion, when he and his daughter reached Cologne at two in the morning after a sixteen hours' journey, he should propose showing her over the Cathedral then and there.

The opening of the year usually found him on the Riviera with his family. At one time they made their head-quarters at Monte Carlo, but latterly they preferred wintering at the beautiful Winter Palace at Cimiez. "If it were not for the Rooms, Monte Carlo would be the health resort of Europe," was the opinion of Sir William Jenner, and it has certainly a far milder climate than the rest of the French Riviera. It was when he was staying in the Principality that H. H. received a letter from his agent at Canterbury earnestly entreating him on no account to date his election address from Monte Carlo!

H. H. was never a great gambler, but he thoroughly enjoyed an hour or two in the Rooms. He used no elaborate system, but staked on Zero every time, besides playing on various combinations of the number 9. Nine he always considered his lucky number. It became an accepted thing in his family that on arrival at any strange hotel he should be given Room 9 or 99, or any sleeping berth on board ship would almost invariably be either of those numbers. The Rules and Regulations governing the Casino are very strictly enforced, and H. H. could remember seeing Lord Randolph Churchill turned away because he was wearing brown boots, while another Chancellor