8. A Hundred Golden Guineas to a Sixpence

Ireland. Old Thady has served under four disastrous generations of the Rackrents:

* Sir Patrick drinks
* Sir Murtagh litigates
* Sir Kit gambles
* Sir Condy (Sir Connolly) merely fritters away the family fortunes

Yet he is still the ever-faithful retainer at the bankrupt Castle Rackrent.

Old Thady remembers when Sir Condy finally agreed a wager too far...

Maria Edgeworth's satire on Anglo-Irish landlords, first published in 1800.

Abridged iby John Scotney.

Concluded by Cyril Cusack.

Producer: Jeremy Howe

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1989.