The Magician

rho?t walked with stooping shoulders, his hands behind him. He beheld the scene with the eyes of the many painters who have sought by means of the most charming garden in Pari

t was autumn, and some were leafless already. Many of the flowers were withered. The formal garden reminded one of a light woman, no longer young, who sought, with faded finery, with powder a

in Egypt, in the practice of medicine, and the frigid summers of Europe scarcely warmed his blood. His memory flashed for an instant upon those multi-coloured streets of

here for a mo

sun shone more kindly now, and the trees which framed the scene were golden and lovely. A balustrade of stone gracefully enclosed the space, and the flowers, freshly

, was transfigured. He no longer struck you merely as an insignificant little man with hollow cheeks and a thin grey beard; for the weariness of expression which was habitual to him vanished before the charming sympathy of his smile. His sunken eyes glittered with a kindly but ironic good-humour. Now passed a guard in the romantic cloak of a brigand in comic opera and a peaked cap like that of an alguacil. A

ent, but with an elaboration which suggested that he had learned the la

uncey?' he asked, t

Burdon

ay, but I'm going to tea at the studio this afternoo

ed. But do you not wis

and we dined together. We talked stead

ou listened with the delighte

had already spent a morning at the H?tel Dieu, where the operator, warned that his visitor was a bold and skilful surgeon, whose reputation in England was already considerable, had sought to dazzle him by feats that savoured almost of legerdemain. Though the hint of charlatanry in the

oned him unexpectedly to Cairo. But the Levantine merchant who was Arthur's father had been his most intimate friend, and it was with singul

charm to a man's personality, tends to weaken him. To excel one's fellows it is needful to be circumscribed. He did not regret, therefore, that Arthur in many ways was narrow. Letters and the arts meant little to him. Nor would he trouble himself with the graceful trivialities which make a man a good talker. In mixed company he was content to listen silently to others, and only something ve

ot like. Then, on the other hand, a singular exhilaration filled him; he was conscious of his power, and he rejoiced in it. No unforeseen accident was able to confuse him. He seemed to have a positive instinct for operating, and his hand and his brain worked i

with his stick upon the gravel, and now, with

ure,' he remarked. 'It is really very surprising that a man like y

rho?t, fearing that his words m

ur characters are more different than chalk and cheese. Notwithstanding your birth in the East and your boyhood spent

imagination and no sense of humour. I am a plain, practical man, but I can see to

is that it is impossible to

he gazed in front of him. It was the look which might fill the passionate ey

cret of your strength. She has a delightful enthusiasm for every form of art. Beauty really means as much to h

e for beauty, since there is beauty i

first on account of the physical perfection which contrasted so astonishingly with the countless def

I felt as though a new w

's mind gave his passion a romantic note that foreboded future tragedy. He sought to

er. She is never tired of listening to my prosy stories of your childhood in Ale

e sure than I am,

affection for him. It was impossible that anything should arise to disturb the pleasant life which they had pla

f our marriage now,' he said.

aved so oddly as you, in postponing your ma

ful to me and would have married me there and then. But I knew she hankered after these two years in Paris, and I didn't feel it was fai

u were a matter-of-fac

rh

t our knowing our minds. We both cared, and we ha

showily dressed in a check suit; and he gravely took off his

fat friend?'

ot of yours. His na

ful tone he used when referring to those whose

l for my little book on the old alchemists I read a great deal at the library of the Arsenal,

ss. He had read his book, recently published, on the more famous of the alchemists; and, though forced to admire the profound knowledge upo

was extraordinary, but scarcely sympathetic; so, though I fancied that he gave me opportunities to address him, I did not avail myself of them. One day, however, curiously enough, I was looking up some point upon which it seemed impossible to find authorities. The librarian could not help me, and I had given up the search, when this person brought me the very book I needed. I surmised that the librarian had told him o

have no doubt,' said Arthur.

ave a deprec

ll you. I tremble in every limb at t

el

kind of eccentricity. It sounds incredible in this year of grace, but my

nswered Arthur