The Harlequin Opal, Vol. 1 (of 3)

ve passed sin

ir marks of

aces plump

e halcyon d

looks and

ardour of

friends: we m

e merry bo

at the piece of paper lying on his desk; "then we were foolish boy

since parted company, as had the four friends, each of whom carried a similar piece in his pocket-book. Often in his wanderings had Sir Philip

Grammar

July

p's house, in Portman Square, London, on the twenty-fourth day of July, on

ign

Winthorp

n D

Paul G

ence Patric

t Tim, the stormy petrel of war, wires lies to London newspapers. I-I am a mere idler, given to wanderings among the tombs of dead civilisations. Peter may come. It means only a short railway journey to him; but Jack and Tim are probably thousands of miles away. Still, as I came from the Guinea Coast to meet them, they certainly ought not to miss the appoi

difference between now and then! He could hardly avoid speculating on their certain mutation. Had the wand of Time changed those merry lads into staid men? Would Jack still be ambitious as of yore? Tim's jokes were famous in the old days; but now, perchance, he found life too serious for jesting. Then P

d melancholy eyes. Those eyes of Philip's were somewhat misleading, as they suggested a poetic nature, steeped in sentimentalism, whereas he was a remarkably matter-of-fact young man, inclined to scoff at the romantic tendencies of his fello

ople never do wear well. Tim is five years older than I, Peter past thirty-three, but it's probable they look younger than I do. As to Jack-well, Jack is an infan

is soliloquy, reverting t

different ideas. We will simply bore one another. Perhaps they are married. Peter was just the kind of boy who would grow into a domesticated man

es in Christendom. On rare occasions, he showed himself in Belgravia drawing-rooms, but in the main loved the masculine seclusion of his club, and the lurching deck of The Bohemian. It may be that some of his remote ancestors had intermarried with the Romany, and

d with culture, and in seeking such primevalism, Sir Philip explored many of those barbaric lands which gird our comfortable civilisation. Peru he knew better than Piccadilly; St. James's Street wa

ually camped out-so to speak, in a club bedroom, and before his friends knew of his whereabouts, would flit away without warning, and be next heard of at Pernambuco, or somewhere about Mad

lebrate the re-union of the quartette. It seemed strange that Cassim should take all this trouble to fulfil a boyish promise, but as he was a man who did not make friends easily, and moreover was beginning to weary of solitary wanderings, he greatly inclined to a renewal of these youthful friendship

fficult to relinquish. Human nature he mistrusted, friendship he scoffed at, and was always on his guard against those with whom he came in contact. Thus living entirely within, and for himself, the real geniality of his disposition became encrusted wit

he things of this world. Pretended! because he really felt deeply and suffered acutely, though pride forbade his showing aught of such mental disturbances to those around him. Perhaps, in seeing so much of the world, he had early exhau

he appeared to be. Certainly he never laid himself out to gain their good opinion. He rarely troubled to make himself agreeable; he was not a marrying man (than which there can be no worse crime in a woman's eyes), and led a solitary, vagrant existence; yet, in spite of suc

vourite trio of poets, from which names it can be seen that Sir Philip had a taste for the fantastic in literature. He was conversant with three or four modern languages, and was especially familiar with the noble tongue of Castille. A man who can read "Don Quixote" in the original

nce, Philip was always careful of the outward man, and this attention to his toilet was a notable trait of his character. Yet he was by no means effeminate, foppish, or finical. To sum up, he was a well-dressed, well-b

lose on seven. Given that all three guests were within a measurable distance of the rendezvous, he began

ter, who never missed a lesson, and never came late to class. Tim is careless! Jack is whimsical!

hom Philip had no difficulty in recognising his quondam schoolfellow. It was a trifle larger Peter-it was Peter in evening dress, twi

er to the man.' It is just on seven, and you, Peter, keep your fift

primly, as he grasped the baronet's hand; "it is indeed a p

n, for the moment he forgot his primness. After a time, however, habit asserted its influence over nature, and Grenc

they settled themselves for a confidential conversation;

"I have often looked at this, and always intended, unless prevented by disease or death,

al correspondents and engineers are the Wandering Jews of to-day. Still, as I came from the Guine

on," said Peter

festing but little surprise

rd I have seen none of you; b

assim, with that amiable belief in his fe

nstantly travelling; you are still a bachelor; you open your heart

ription is accurate if not original. However, let us not talk of P

im, however, wrote to me the other day saying he intended to keep t

ers however; the descriptions are so bright and vivid-plenty of gunpowder and adventure. Cert

from Ireland; but now that he has been travelling s

eve he loves his brogue. You can't educate the race nature out of a man. Believe me, my

ibe him, would be the last person to suit

ith all his noise and brogue, is a thorough gentleman. It is your veneered per

to London. Passed my examinations, walked the hospitals, took my degree, and hearing that a doctor was wanted

hilip, in surprise. "Hav

t five hundred a year from my father, and as there is no necess

through unoffend

that?" asked the little

rolled you in nettles to cure you of entomology. Boys don't relish scientific urchins. S

mology gives me great pleasure, or why should I not enjoy myself i

ot-if it's b

indeed a pleasure," said Peter, beaming with scientific rapt

ip, stretching himsel

nantly; "the most fascinat

le man who appeared to be so sat

ntroduce you to the paradise of butterflies. Tropical America, Peter, where the i

ould like to go to South America. I would find a peculi

rising with alacrity, rather thankful to e

mptly, "no one else wo

e?" cried a hearty Irish v

cally, as he opened the door; "no two pe

like a Bull of Bashan, who hurled himself into

dered, squeezing Cassim in his athleti

lip, helpless in the hug of this

he baronet to pounce on the doctor, "yo

ion by a handgrip. He threw all his soul into this latter, and Peter's face wrinkled up like a monkey's with pain. It was like a fl

lacing a chair between himself and his too demonstrative fri

od grinning at the door. Looking on this respectful grin as a liberty, Philip frowned at the poor man, who th

g his heated brow, "it

" returned Cassim dryly, "consideri

ith the broadest of brogues; "

," said Peter, examining his crushed h

eeling manner, and Cassim, with a smile,

ge boy, Tim, and now you are a large man. I wouldn't have recog

ender hand as it rested on his shoulder. "Wasn't I but one term at the school, a

the air of a man who has made a cutting remark; "but a

uage is Irish," finishe

's a polyglot I am, French, Italian, Spanish, and a touch of Arabic. I

d kn

eard last; but I'll go bail he'll

onsulting an eminently respectable w

ocket-book commensurate to his size, and

d Jack's late. I neve

renowned for punctua

ve had for that same. But this is a special occa

ers. "We have plenty to talk about until he arrives. How are y

and a good thing it is for me that same. Special correspondin

ies," added Philip, wit

hat rubbish s

; "in fact, since my father left me five hundred a

ith a grin. "Why, Peter, you

rther protestations were drowned in the laughter o

s better. You are more like a Ch

nquired Philip,

theatre six months ago, looking for all the wo

't you sp

tand-off-the-grass like that I co

uring with vexation. "You know

inese invitat

such a prig. Why, I came all the way

hand; "it's only joking I am. If you didn't recognise an ol

the worst of that little encounter," reto

er the fight quite well. But we can talk of thes

ers about the Soudan War to The Morning Planet, and my account of the Transv

" replied Peter, impatiently;

o the Soudan-afterwards to Burmah, where I was nearly drowned in the Irriwaddy. They know me in Algiers and Morocco. Now I've just returned

said Philip, when the Irishman stopped for brea

in one place. That boat of your

pe lots of times. I was just trying to p

isability of doing so," observed Pe

ley Murray. Well, if Phili

y, Tim?" asked

busy. If those squabbling South American Republics don't co

with me, by

"Jack, if he turns up at all, will have travelled home f

ter's head, a familiarity much resented by the famil

p, yawning; "but it is now eight o'clock, and I'm hungry. It's

d Grench, as Cassim touched the bell. "

d Tim, playfully, "or I'll put you on the top of the bo

etorted Peter, resentfully. "I'm

r's struggles, he picked him up like a baby, and carried him as far as the study door. Indeed, he would have carried him into

own to the meal rather regretting that Jack was not present to complete

Duv

nd on looking towards the door beheld a tall young f

ng towards him with unbou

his voice shaking with emot