I like that idea, Tem.  I'm going with the Gladiator background for him, so there's something of the entertainer in him as well.  It could be Clara was perhaps hired on by Burdock's owner with express purposes of inspiring the crowd and, thus, encouraging more bets to be placed.  They could have met and made friends that way until she inevitably moved on?<br/><br/>Maybe she even helped train him a bit in how to work the audience and garner their support?