Malcolm shared the chuckle, finding it doubly humorous, since there was a wealth of evidence—linguistic, literary, musical, legal, and archaeological—to suggest that the Celtic laws, languages, customs and arts of Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, and Gaulish France bore direct and striking ties to Vedic India.
“And speaking of grand and glorious Celts,” Mr. O’Downett said, eyes twinkling wickedly, “here comes the grandest of all us Celtic poets. I say, Willie, have you come for our little meeting this evening? I’d thought you would be haunting Madame Blavatsky’s parlour tonight.”
Malcolm Moore turned . . . and had to catch his breath to keep from exclaiming out loud. His chance acquaintance had just greeted the most profoundly gifted poet ever born in Ireland, the soon-to-be world-famous William Butler Yeats.
“Willie” Yeats smiled at O’Downett, his own eyes glowing with a fire-eaten look that spoke of a massively restless intellect. “No, not tonight, Bevin. The good lady had other plans. Occasionally, even our peripatetic madame pursues other interests.” Yeats was clearly laughing at himself. The Dubliner Irish was far more pronounced in the newcomer’s voice. Yeats was still in his twenties, having arrived with his parents from Dublin only the previous year, 1887.
Bevin O’Downett smiled and made introductions. “Willie, I say, have you met Mr. Malcolm Moore? West Indian gentleman, travels about a good bit, met him at Ascot last year. Mr. Moore, my dear friend, Mr. William Butler Yeats.”