The Harlequin Opal, Vol. 1 (of 3)

nd send the c

Rio!

barkey's ou

Rio!

, all look sh

d Nancy sa

m, if they p

nd for Ri

drank his gr

Rio!

o longer sl

Rio!

le up, my l

the ancho

ays the Cro

nd for Ri

her?" asked Philip,

replied Jack, enthusiastically; "no

e smartest vessels of her kind in British waters. Putting aside her speed when the screw was spinning, she was renowned for her sailing capabilities. With all sails set, and a fair wind, she could smoke through the water a

up to the extent of her furnace accommodation, her speed was something wonderful. Sometimes the baronet used the screw, more often the sails; and, with her white wings spread like summer clouds, The Bohemian, leaning to leeward rode the surges like a Venus of the foam. Taper masts, splend

eness of her whole appearance. Philip attended thoroughly well to her wants, and despite her frequent voyagings in stormy seas, she always looked as though she had just left dry dock. When the screw thrashed the water into silver froth, and the black smoke poured from t

sland made it his head-quarters. Now his old residence is turned into an hotel, and in comparison with Cowes and Ryde, this once populous town is a mere village. With its narrow streets, and antique houses, and indolent townsfolk, it has an

der to arrange his affairs, and, to save time, Philip agreed to pick him up at Plymouth. The special correspondent went straight to his chief, and told him of his desire to start for Cholacaca at once; so, as it seemed pretty certain t

England with but a single portmanteau, which had been left at the station. Philip carried the homeless wanderer to his club, and put him up for the night, and next day they took themselves and the solitary portmanteau down to Yarmouth, where the

ying the beauties of his boat to Jack, he busied himself with seeing about stores, and making sure that all was in order for the voyage. While the baronet was thus engaged

olores; but he was also in love with her beauty, and adored her in a sensual, brutish fashion, which made Jack grind his teeth and clench his hands at the very thought. Yet he was undeniably a clever man, and skilled in diplomatic intrigue; therefore it might be that his revolt against the established Government of Cholacaca would end in his assuming the dictatorship. In such an event

security, Dolores might have permitted herself to be kidnapped, in which case Jack hardly knew what to do. Still, it might be that nothing had happened save the withdrawal of Xuarez to Acauhtzin, and Duval fervently hope

absently at the dull-hued water. "Once there, and I will be able to protect Dolores. If the worst comes, there is always Phil

oice, behind him. "I won't give a penny f

you kn

re thinking of

uous blush. "I was hoping she had not been carr

on, at present, to hamper himself with a woman. Don't worry, fond lover. The Bohemian will take us to Ce

Duval, gloomily; "but I'm

If Xuarez intends business, he has withdrawn to Acauhtzin to make his plans. To do so, he requires time. If he had kidnapped Do?a Dolores, thi

iness?" asked Jack, followi

lymouth, to pick up Peter. I wish Tim would come down to-night; but I s

reason for g

ion; and, in the second, I desire to stretch my legs. Let us have as much

s time?" asked Duval, as they w

I tell you, to keep this appointment. I didn't then

ot regretting you

. Now then, Messrs. Bradshaw and Co.," he added, poising his pen over the telegraph f

why don't you write your lawyer a letter, in

re I am in case of my possible death, so as to make things right for the next-of-kin. They have no letters to

t to such unbusin

up such preachings. Don't trouble any more about them, but let us tak

connection," sa

est desipere in loco.' There is a bit of

isanthrope, Philip; but

youth, I feel much better. The friends we make in life are never as dear as those we make at school. Since leaving Bedford I have made none. I have lived for my yacht

nthorne? a fri

nd Sullivan's operas. But you have lived so long among savages that you don

'm not so ignora

ou marry Dolores, and realise the opal, you must return to civilisation

happy among

rejoined Philip, enviously. "Would I were as ea

" returned Ja

, which needs serious discussion. Let us sit down on this soft turf, my friend, and you shall give yo

with a sigh of content. Jack more soberly seated himself by the side of his friend, and for a few moments they remained silent, gazing at the scene. Below was the rent and torn earth, on either side a scanty fringe of trees, and in front the blue sea stretching far away towards the dim line of the Hampshire coast. A gentle wind was blowing, the perfume of the wild fl

e primrose. "Ah! there is no doubt it is the most delightful country in

o love," said Philip, rolling himself over so as to

with a silver spoon in his mouth. If I can't find employment i

, gravely, "there is always

if there is one adjective that does not desc

ngelica, Burne Jones, Gustave Do

if you care to listen. But I do not w

love affairs-when they

er's ravings. Women are the most sympathetic in such a case; but as Jack had no female friend in whom to confide, he had either to hold his tongue or tell Philip. Philip, he thought, would not care for description

, her face oval, and her complexion inclined to be darkish. She has teeth like pearls, and a mouth like Cupid's bow. H

ck. Teeth of pearl, and Cupid's bow for a mouth ar

gan Jack, angrily, when Cassim haste

n your ingenuity. I know exactly what kind of a woman Dolores

gold oval from his pocket; "but, to save further description, look

portrait in the lock

res a tem

, laconically; "but wh

uth, a fiery temper. I don't wonder you are in love

," said Jack, half annoyed, as he resto

of race. It may be all very well for the offspring, who, as a rule, are clever; but the husband

that I am half Spanish in my habits, and so can suit myself to Dolores. Besides, when we are

uth America would suit me also. I also must find an Indian-Spanish spouse. And that reminds me, Jack

e you marry D

dy?" cried Cassim, sitting up, with a r

ores, and the daug

your eyes, no one is so perfect as Dolores. Well, I will consider the matter wh

nse you tal

times of very sensible people. We won't discuss how that remark applies

son, Don

oes the you

y young fellow of twenty-five. We are grea

her b

plied Jack, dryly. "She is the old man's sist

marry her to Peter, and they c

would marry anyone;

ust do so for him. Oh," yawned Philip, rising reluctantly to his feet, "what a pleasant talk w

ge at once, and, though Philip ran like

which verged on the high-road. "You're one too many for me

ning. Too much fles

e run from the enemy. Constant life on a yacht isn't

d away like dew before the sun of Duval's geniality, and he was more like the merry boy of old than the haughty, distrustful man of the present. The reason of this lay in the fact that he felt he could thoroughly trust Jack, and it was a great comfort to him that there was at least one man in the world to whom he could open his heart unreservedly. Secretly, he was much astonished at the pleasur

ey walked through the town. "Before you came, I was gr

imply. "But indeed, Philip, so far as I can

ill stay with you until the cure is complete. Then I will see you safely m

ated Jack, as hi

up the old discont

is arm within that of Philip's. "No. I will cure

That's d

migo. Meanwhile, I'm hungry, so l

, but offered no opposition

, as in literature, leaned towards the dreamy and fantastical, so the languorous life of Spanish America in sleepy towns, amid the dilapidated pomp of former splendours, appealed greatly to the imaginative side of his nature. Hitherto his visits to these out-of-the-wa

more on the war-path, especially as he was to go through the campaign in the company of his old school-fellows. The business of pu

e, if you had liked," said Philip,

ntly. "What would I be stuffing up the boat with rags f

," replied Philip, dryly. "I expect, before the en

fully ludicrous, and he sat down to laugh which he continued to do until the sc

ring butterflies, and cases for preserving them much to the disgust of Philip, who hated his yacht to be overloaded with such débris. With that painful candour which prevailed between them

ard, and dipping her nose in the salt b