Chapter I: Front Matter

TOURMALIN'S
TIME CHEQUES

F. Anstey

GREENHILL
SCIENCE FICTION
& FANTASY

This edition of _Tourmalin's Time Cheques_
first published 1986 by Greenhill Books,
Lionel Leventhal Limited, 3 Barnham Avenue, Elstree,
Hertfordshire WD6 3PW

This edition © Lionel Leventhal Limited, 1986

All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form by any means electrical,
mechanical or otherwise without first seeking the
written permission of the Publisher.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Anstey, F.
Tourmalin's Time Cheques.--(Greenhill Science Fiction & Fantasy)
Rn: Thomas Anstey Guthrie
I. Title 823'.8[F] PR4729.G5

ISBN 0-947898-48-4

Publishing History
_Tourmalin's Time Cheques_ was first published in 1885,
by J. W. Arrowsmith, Bristol
and is reproduced now exactly as the original edition,
complete and unabridged.

Greenhill Books
welcome readers' suggestions for books
that might be added to this Series.
Please write to us if there are titles
which you would like to recommend.

Printed by Antony Rowe Limited,
Chippenham, Wiltshire.

CONTENTS.

_Page_
PROLOGUE.

On Deck--Curry and Culture--Alternative Distractions--A
Period of Probation--The Oath and the
Talisman--Wavering--A Chronological Error--The
Time Bargain--Tourmalin Opens an Account 1

CHAPTER I.

=Tourmalin's First Cheque, and How he Took It.=

Fidelity Rewarded--Love's Catechism--Brain-fag--a
Timely Recollection--The Experiment, and some
Startling Results--Question Time--"Dear Friends"--A
Compromise 21

CHAPTER II.

=The Second Cheque.=

Furnishing--A Cosy Corner--"Sitting Out"--Fresh
Discoveries--Twice a Hero--Bewilderment and Bathos 38

CHAPTER III.

=The Third Cheque.=

Good Resolutions--Casuistry--A Farewell Visit--Small
Profit and a Quick Return 52

CHAPTER IV.

=The Fourth Cheque.=

A Blue Moon--Felicity in a Flat--Practical Astronomy--Temptation
and a Relapse--The Difficulties of being
Completely Candid--A Slight Misunderstanding--The
Avenging Orange 66

CHAPTER V.

=Periodic Drawings.=

A Series of Cheques: their Advantages and Drawbacks--An
Unknown Factor--Uncompleted Confidences--Ibsen,
with Intervals--A Disappointment--A "Search-question"
from Sophia--Confidence Restored 80

CHAPTER VI.

=Foil and Counterfoil.=

The Duties of Authorship--Peter's Continued Perversity
and its Unforeseen Results--"Alfred"--The Tragic
Note--An Interrupted Crisis--A Domestic Surprise 100

CHAPTER VII.

=The Culminating Cheque.=

Sophia Gives an Explanation, and Requests One--Her
Verdict--Peter Overruled 114

CHAPTER VIII.

=Paid in His Own Coin.=

In Suspense: a Gleam of Comfort--Darkness Returns--The
Rock Ahead--Sir William Lends his
Binocular--Reappearance of an Old Enemy--A New
Danger--Out of the Frying-pan 129

CHAPTER IX.

=Compound Interest.=

Back to the Fire Again--A Magnanimous Return--Catching
at Straws--Two Total Strangers--Purely
a Question of Precedence--"Hemmed in" and "Surrounded"--The
Last Chance 145