Two, by Tricks: A Novel

Set in the sweltering night after Ascot, the story opens in a bustling London opera house where the glitter of high society collides with the chaotic chorus of foreign guests. The narrator sketches a parade of colorful characters—from flamboyant Spaniards and plump Germans to a crimson‑fez‑wearing Turk—each adding a layer of comic detail to the scene. Amid the fan‑flapping boxes and clamor of the stalls, the focus narrows on Tom Lydyeard, a silver‑threaded veteran whose polished bearing hides a notoriously short temper.

Tom, still bearing the poise of his Crimean days, navigates the opera’s crowded aisles while muttering about the wine, the food, and the pretensions around him. His interactions with irritable staff and the ever‑watchful Irish doctor St. Kevin hint at a network of acquaintances that will pull him into the season’s upcoming scandals. As the evening unfolds, the stage is set for a series of witty confrontations and unexpected alliances that reveal the fickle heart of Victorian high life.