The Magician | Page 7

him, I have no doubt,' said Arthur. 'And what is
he by profession?'
Dr Porhoët gave a deprecating smile.
'My dear fellow, I hardly like to tell you. I tremble in every limb at the
thought of your unmitigated scorn.'
'Well?'
'You know, Paris is full of queer people. It is the chosen home of every
kind of eccentricity. It sounds incredible in this year of grace, but my
friend Oliver Haddo claims to be a magician. I think he is quite
serious.'
'Silly ass!' answered Arthur with emphasis.

2
Margaret Dauncey shared a flat near the Boulevard du Montparnasse
with Susie Boyd; and it was to meet her that Arthur had arranged to
come to tea that afternoon. The young women waited for him in the
studio. The kettle was boiling on the stove; cups and petits fours stood
in readiness on a model stand. Susie looked forward to the meeting
with interest. She had heard a good deal of the young man, and knew
that the connexion between him and Margaret was not lacking in
romance. For years Susie had led the monotonous life of a mistress in a
school for young ladies, and had resigned herself to its dreariness for
the rest of her life, when a legacy from a distant relation gave her
sufficient income to live modestly upon her means. When Margaret,
who had been her pupil, came, soon after this, to announce her
intention of spending a couple of years in Paris to study art, Susie
willingly agreed to accompany her. Since then she had worked

industriously at Colarossi's Academy, by no means under the delusion
that she had talent, but merely to amuse herself. She refused to
surrender the pleasing notion that her environment was slightly wicked.
After the toil of many years it relieved her to be earnest in nothing; and
she found infinite satisfaction in watching the lives of those around her.
She had a great affection for Margaret, and though her own stock of
enthusiasms was run low, she could enjoy thoroughly Margaret's young
enchantment in all that was exquisite. She was a plain woman; but
there was no envy in her, and she took the keenest pleasure in
Margaret's comeliness. It was almost with maternal pride that she
watched each year add a new grace to that exceeding beauty. But her
common sense was sound, and she took care by good-natured banter to
temper the praises which extravagant admirers at the drawing-class
lavished upon the handsome girl both for her looks and for her talent.
She was proud to think that she would hand over to Arthur Burdon a
woman whose character she had helped to form, and whose loveliness
she had cultivated with a delicate care.
Susie knew, partly from fragments of letters which Margaret read to her,
partly from her conversation, how passionately he adored his bride; and
it pleased her to see that Margaret loved him in return with a grateful
devotion. The story of this visit to Paris touched her imagination.
Margaret was the daughter of a country barrister, with whom Arthur
had been in the habit of staying; and when he died, many years after his
wife, Arthur found himself the girl's guardian and executor. He sent her
to school; saw that she had everything she could possibly want; and
when, at seventeen, she told him of her wish to go to Paris and learn
drawing, he at once consented. But though he never sought to assume
authority over her, he suggested that she should not live alone, and it
was on this account that she went to Susie. The preparations for the
journey were scarcely made when Margaret discovered by chance that
her father had died penniless and she had lived ever since at Arthur's
entire expense. When she went to see him with tears in her eyes, and
told him what she knew, Arthur was so embarrassed that it was quite
absurd.

'But why did you do it?' she asked him. 'Why didn't you tell me?'
'I didn't think it fair to put you under any obligation to me, and I wanted
you to feel quite free.'
She cried. She couldn't help it.
'Don't be so silly,' he laughed. 'You own me nothing at all. I've done
very little for you, and what I have done has given me a great deal of
pleasure.'
'I don't know how I can ever repay you.'
'Oh, don't say that,' he cried. 'It makes it so much harder for me to say
what I want to.'
She looked at him quickly and reddened. Her deep blue eyes were
veiled with tears.
'Don't you know that I'd do anything in the world for you?' she cried.
'I don't want you to be grateful to me, because I