The Harlequin Opal: A Romance. Vol. 2 (of 3)

In Short

Set in the fictional Central American Republic of Cholacaca, this mid-1990s nineteenth-century romance follows a band of brave British gentlemen and local loyalists fighting to restore order during a bloody civil war. Don Hypolito Xuarez, a charismatic insurgent of mixed heritage, aims to overthrow the lawful government and seize the sacred Harlequin Opal—a legendary gem believed to foretell the nation's destiny. Rich in dramatic rescues, ancient ruins, and high-seas naval encounters, the novel endures as a vivid, period-accurate adventure of political intrigue, lost Indian cities, and romantic devotion.

The Story

The volume opens as Sir Philip Cassilis and his companions steam northward aboard The Bohemian toward the port of Acauhtzin. Their goal is to intercept the forces of Don Hypolito Xuarez, an insurgent leader who has broken with the lawful government at Tlatonac, proclaimed himself President, and established a rival capital. Anxious for his beloved Doña Dolores, whom he fears is captive aboard Xuarez's fleet, Jack Duval charges into danger, only to be amboused, captured, and placed in chains within a dark dungeon.

Xuarez offers Jack his freedom on one condition: renounce Dolores and leave the country. Jack fiercely refuses. In retaliation, Xuarez hands the unconscious Englishman over to native priests, who transport him through dense jungles and across a blinding salt desert to Totatzine, an ancient Toltec temple hidden in the forest. Here, the sacred Harlequin Opal is guarded alongside the blood-stained idol of Huitzilopochtli, and Jack learns he has been slated as a human sacrifice to the stone.

While imprisoned in the temple, Jack unexpectedly reunites with Dolores, who had also been abducted by the insurgents. Assisted by Cocom, an elderly Indian who secretly practices Catholicism and rejects the old gods, the lovers orchestrate a daring escape. Disguised as silent penitents, they flee Totatzine, tricking the priests into believing they fell into a roaring torrent. Emerging at the coast, Cocom, Jack, and Dolores are rescued by Philip’s yacht just in time to avoid recaption by pursuing Indian guards.

Returning to Tlatonac, the party is greeted with wild public jubilation as the sacred opal is restored to the city. Yet peace is fleeting. Xuarez’s rebel forces, allied with native tribes, close in on the capital by land and sea, crippling trade and threatening famine. Mobilizing for defense, Jack and his companions take to the sea on the warship Montezuma, clashing with rebel vessels in fierce naval engagements, before rushing south to reinforce the besieged loyalist stronghold at Janjalla.

The volume ends on a harrowing cliffhanger outside the walls of Janjalla. After fighting their way through a desperate cavalry skirmish back into the city gates, Jack, Peter, and Tim realize that promised reinforcements have failed to arrive—and that Sir Philip may have been ambushed by hostile Indian forces in the wilderness.

How It Unfolds

Running the blockade Sir Philip Cassilis and Jack Duval steam into the harbor of Acauhtzin aboard The Bohemian, only to find three rebel warships anchored before the insurgent stronghold.

A desperate refusal Captured and chained in a dark cell, Jack Duval defies Don Hypolito Xuarez, refusing to give up his love for Doña Dolores in exchange for his freedom.

The shrine of the opal Delivered to native priests in the ancient forest city of Totatzine, Jack learns he is destined to be sacrificed to the idol Huitzilopochtli and the prophetic Harlequin Opal.

Reunion in the temple Jack finds Dolores held captive within the sacred precinct, and together with the loyal old Indian Cocom, they plan a perilous escape disguised as silent pilgrims.

Triumphant return After a narrow sea rescue, the party returns the Harlequin Opal to Tlatonac, where enthusiastic crowds carpet the streets with cloaks and flowers to honor their return.

War on the horizon As Xuarez’s blockade halts trade and threatens famine, Jack bids a tender farewell to Dolores and boards the warship Montezuma to confront the rebel fleet.

Desperate defense In the besieged town of Janjalla, Jack and his friends fight back a fierce cavalry charge at the city gates, only to discover that critical reinforcements have vanished on the road.

The People

• Jack Duval: An adventurous and steadfast Englishman who will stop at nothing to rescue his beloved Dolores. Facing dungeon chains, imminent human sacrifice, and battlefield chaos, his unwavering bravery keeps his companions united.
• Doña Dolores: A noble and resilient young woman caught in the crossfire of political ambition and romantic rivalry. Subjected to terrifying abductions, her devotion to Jack sustains her through captivity in the ancient forest city.
• Don Hypolito Xuarez: The brilliant, ruthless leader of the Opposidores who claims the presidency of Cholacaca. Driven by a desire for supreme power and a personal obsession with Dolores, he orchestrates Jack's removal with calculated cruelty.
• Cocom: An elderly Indian guide and devout Catholic living among the worshippers of the old gods. Outwardly loyal to the temple guardians, he risks his own life to engineer Jack and Dolores's escape from Totatzine.
• Sir Philip Cassilis: A dependable English baronet and loyal friend who commands The Bohemian. He tirelessly navigates naval blockades and battlefields to support Jack and defend the Republic.

In Its Own Voice

"The stone had its birth in the nurturing earth, / Its home in the heart of the main... / But beware of the red, 'tis an omen of dread, / Portending disaster and doom." — The opening proem introduces the mystical legend and ominous color-prophecies of the Harlequin Opal.

"I will not harm a hair of your head. What your fate will be I refuse to tell you; but if you are a wise man you will accept my offer of freedom." — Don Hypolito Xuarez attempts to intimidate Jack Duval into surrendering his romantic claim on Doña Dolores.

"The dark world of waters became tinged with rainbow hues, then one thick yellow shaft of light smote the zenith with heavy brilliance." — The narrator paints the dazzling tropical sunrise over the sea as The Bohemian approaches the northern coast.

What It's Really About

Beneath its rousing sequence of naval battles, jungle escapes, and romantic devotion, The Harlequin Opal explores the collision between ancient indigenous traditions and nineteenth-century political ambition. It examines how superstition and sacred relics can be manipulated by cunning leaders like Xuarez to subvert democratic rule and seize power. The story contrasts true loyalty—demonstrated by the selfless actions of Cocom and Jack's devoted friends—with the deceptive, self-serving promises of political demagogues. Ultimately, the book questions whether a young republic can overcome internal factionalism and racial divides when swept up in the fever of civil war.

Why Read It Today

Fans of classic late-Victorian adventure fiction—in the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and Robert Louis Stevenson—will find much to enjoy in this dramatic Central American saga. The novel captures the imagination with its atmospheric descriptions of tropical sunrises, ancient Toltec temples hidden in primeval forests, and high-stakes naval engagements.

While modern readers must navigate nineteenth-century period attitudes, sensationalized portrayals of indigenous religions, and melodramatic dialogue, the book’s swift narrative momentum keeps the pages turning. The blend of sea-faring romance, military tactics, and gothic intrigue creates an immersive historical escape that leaves a lasting impression of courage under fire.