More on Sir Mark Sykes

Intrigued by the man who may save us from bird flu, I looked him up on Wikipedia:

Mark Sykes was son of Sir Tatton Sykes, a 48 year old reclusive bachelor hypochondriac who was maneuvered into a most unsuitable marriage to an 18 year old girl by the bride's mother. They were never happy together and became less so as Lady Sykes descended into sexual promiscuity, drinking and heavy gambling. After spending large amounts of money paying off her debts, Tatton Sykes published a notice in the papers disavowing her debts and legally separating from her.

Blimey.

Inevitably, he was a friend of Aubrey Herbert.