Chapter 1

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_Title:_ The Exploits of Captain O’Hagan
_Date of first publication:_ 1916
_Author:_ Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward (as Sax Rohmer) (1883-1959)
_Date first posted:_ Dec. 11, 2020
_Date last updated:_ Dec. 16, 2020
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[Cover Illustration]

=THE=
=EXPLOITS OF=
=CAPTAIN=
=O’HAGAN=

=BY=
=SAX ROHMER=
=Author of “The Yellow Claw,”=
=“Dr. Fu Manchu,” etc.=

=Bookfinger=
=New York City=
=1968=

Portions of this book appeared serially in McClure’s
Magazine during 1913-14

First Printed, Jarrolds, London,
December, 1916

First American Edition

Contents

Exploit the First
He Patronises Pamela

Chapter Page
I. The Hat of Mr. Parkins 11
II. “The Art of Gentle Thought” 17
III. Pamela Returns 25
IV. A Musical Interlude 31

Exploit the Second
He Clears the Course for True Love

I. The Gloomy Cavalier 51
II. The Other 60
III. Natural Selection 66
IV. At Fig Tree Court 72

Exploit the Third
He Meets the Leopard Lady

I. The Boom-Maker 87
II. La Belle Lotus 95
III. The Boom 102
IV. Echoes of the Boom 110
V. Belcher the Thorough 119

Exploit the Fourth
He Buries an Old Love

I. The Lonely Lady 125
II. At the Stage Door 131
III. In the Dressing-Room 140
IV. The Snows of the Yukon 149

Exploit the Fifth
He Deals with Don Juan

I. Haverley of the Greys 159
II. According ot Myuku 168
III. Introducing Donohue 171
IV. Donohue’s Orders 178
V. Revelations 184
VI. Donohue Again 189

Exploit the Sixth
He Honors the Grand Duke

I. We Meet the Duke 195
II. We Improve the Acquaintance 201
III. The Maid and the Ring 215
IV. The Conspirators 219

A NECESSARY FOREWORD.

In presenting for perusal a selection of private notes dealing with the
sometimes eccentric doings of my gallant friend and compatriot, Captain
the Hon. Bernard O’Hagan, V.C., D.S.O., I desire in the first place to
assure my reader that O’Hagan is in no degree related to anyone else of
the name.

Recent circumstances have led him to resume military duties; but the
splendid response of Democracy to the trumpet-call “Pro Patrià” has in
no way unsettled his singular opinions. In the face of evidence to the
contrary which many regard as conclusive, he maintains that the ideal
form of government is government by an absolute monarchy.

It forms no part of my plan either to support or to seek to disprove the
theories of Captain O’Hagan. In justice to my distinguished friend, I
must add that support and opposition alike are matters of indifference
to him. He stands alone—aloof—aloft. Neither as apologist nor as
eulogist do I pen these lines, but merely as the chronicler of
remarkable events in the career of a remarkable man.

EXPLOIT THE FIRST.

HE PATRONISES PAMELA.

EXPLOIT THE FIRST.
HE PATRONISES PAMELA.

I.
THE HAT OF MR. PARKINS.

A very wilderness is Bernard O’Hagan, which no man could hope thoroughly
to explore; a most picturesque figure in the satin-lined cloak which he
loves to wear in defiance of fashion and indeed of civilised custom,
singularly resembling the Merry Monarch whom a lady of his race once
entertained right regally at the ancestral home of the O’Hagans. The
unexpectedness of the man is one of the most marked features of his
character—the one that makes his society at once delightful and
alarming.

“My boy,” he will burst out, as we sit in a crowded café, “that
gentleman yonder is unduly interested in my appearance.” And, stepping
over to the offensive one: “Sir, you are staring at me. I suspect you of
being a bum-bailiff!”

“What!” says the other, in all probability—whilst, my friend and I the
observed of many observers, I tremble for the outcome of the
affair—“how dare you! Damn it! how dare you!”

“Because,” replies O’Hagan, with a sort of calm ferocity, “I desire to
pull your nose, and only await a fitting opportunity! You are a puppy,
sir! There is my card!”

The man leaps in anger to his feet. Others arise, too, and waiters
approach.

“You will regret this outrage!” says the man, pale or inflamed. “You
will hear from my solicitor!”

Then O’Hagan throws back his picturesque head and laughs.

“The solicitor again!” he cries, snapping his fingers. “Always the
solicitor—or the police! Is there no man alive to-day who can fight his
own battles?”

He quietly returns to his table. The other speaks to the manager, and,
if he be a good customer, the manager comes across to O’Hagan. O’Hagan
rises slowly, fixing his eyes upon him. And, somehow, O’Hagan is never
ejected. A devil of a fellow.