# II: London explained — A Bid for Fortune

> Chapter companion for A Bid for Fortune by Guy Boothby.

## What happens

Richard Hatteras recounts his first impressions of London and his anxious wait for a letter from his sweetheart Phyllis. They meet at the British Museum, where he gives her a ring as a token of his love. After she leaves, Hatteras wanders into an unfamiliar part of London and has lunch at a French restaurant. There he encounters a mysterious man who demonstrates uncanny knowledge of Hatteras's personal cards and performs a conjuring trick that reveals a vision of Phyllis crying and calling for him, leaving Hatteras deeply unsettled.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Hatteras's devotion to Phyllis is evident in his anxious waiting, the gift of the ring, and his emotional response to the vision of her distress.

### Deception and Appearances

Dr. Nikola's conjuring tricks blur the line between reality and illusion, leaving Hatteras questioning what is real.

### Fate and Coincidence

The chance meeting with Dr. Nikola and the mysterious vision suggest a predestined connection or supernatural intervention.

## Character check-ins

### Richard Hatteras

The protagonist and narrator, deeply in love with Phyllis, explores London and encounters a mysterious conjuror.

### Phyllis

Hatteras's sweetheart, meets him at the British Museum, receives a ring, and later appears in a vision crying.

### Dr. Nikola

The mysterious man at the restaurant who performs conjuring tricks and reveals knowledge of Hatteras's cards.

### Miss Wetherell

Phyllis's father, mentioned as having given Hatteras a card and as being in London with Phyllis.

## Key lines

> There was something almost startling about our lovemaking in such a place, among these men and women, whose wooings had been conducted in a country so widely different to ours, and in an age that was dead and gone over two thousand years ere we were born.

It felt strange to be expressing our love in a museum surrounded by ancient artifacts, amidst people from a culture and time completely unlike our own.

_Hatteras reflects on the contrast between modern romance and the ancient relics around them._

> I have been thinking over those cards, and I am considerably puzzled. How on earth did you know they were there?

I've been wondering how you knew about the cards in my pocket. It seems impossible.

_Hatteras expresses bewilderment at Dr. Nikola's seemingly supernatural knowledge._

> I saw only a picture opening out before me—that of a handsomely furnished room, in which was a girl sitting in an easy chair crying as if her heart were breaking.

I saw a vision of a nicely decorated room where a girl was sobbing inconsolably.

_Hatteras describes the disturbing vision induced by Dr. Nikola's trick._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-ii-london
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters