THAT the world is a far from fair place is something that must be striking jilted Viscount "Johnny" Cobham right now.

For he faces having to sell art treasures from his stately Midlands home in order to rustle up the £1 million divorce settlement claimed by his ex-wife of 22 years, Penelope, who ran off with former government minister David Mellor.

There is, of course, no justice when the 'guilty' party can collect so much loot.

A crumb of comfort for the cheated viscount, though, is that his 45-year-old ex has toned down her demand from the £2 million she wanted to begin with.

However, when one looks at this matter another way, it does indeed seem right that runaway Lady Penelope is due considerable compensation.

After all, who would deny that waking up every morning alongside the podgy, smarmy, adulterous Mr Mellor is what many women in their right minds would not contemplate for a penny less than a million quid - and many would not endure for all the money in the world?

It takes all sorts.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.