# Paul — The Black Opal character guide > Paul in The Black Opal by Katharine Susannah Prichard. **Role:** minor **Also known as:** Paul the opals **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i ## Who they are A miner associated with the opal fields. ## Relationships ### [Michael Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/michael_brady) _friendship_ Michael Brady and Paul are close friends, often working together and sharing a bond of loyalty. ### [Sophie Rouminof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/sophie_rouminof) _friendship_ Paul is a kind and supportive friend to Sophie, often looking out for her well-being. ### [Potch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/potch) _friendship_ Paul and Potch are friends, though their relationship is sometimes strained by Potch's volatile nature. ### [Jun Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/jun_johnson) _friendship_ Jun Johnson and Paul are good friends, often seen together in social or work contexts. ### [Michael Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/michael_brady) _friendship_ Michael Brady and Paul are close friends, often working together and sharing a bond of loyalty. ### [Michael Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/michael_brady) _friendship_ Michael Brady and Paul are close friends, often working together and sharing a bond of loyalty. ### [Sophie Rouminof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/sophie_rouminof) _friendship_ Paul is a kind and supportive friend to Sophie, often looking out for her well-being. ### [Jun Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/jun_johnson) _friendship_ Jun Johnson and Paul are good friends, often seen together in social or work contexts. ### [Sophie Rouminof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/sophie_rouminof) _friendship_ Paul is a kind and supportive friend to Sophie, often looking out for her well-being. ### [Potch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/potch) _friendship_ Paul and Potch are friends, though their relationship is sometimes strained by Potch's volatile nature. ### [Potch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/potch) _friendship_ Paul and Potch are friends, though their relationship is sometimes strained by Potch's volatile nature. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-i) Sophie's father, who arrives home shouting about striking opal while his wife is dying; later expresses banal grief at the funeral. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-ii) Mrs. Rouminof's husband; shiftless and unreliable, he and Sophie go to live with Michael after her death. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-iii) Paul Rouminof, Jun's mining mate, naively shows off his opals and trusts Jun completely, but is forced to take possession of his share after community intervention. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-iv) Determined to leave the Ridge with Sophie, ignoring Michael's arguments; his opals are at risk. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-v) Grieves the loss of his opals and recounts his version of events to the men; his emotional display irks some of the community. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-vii) Brings luck to Michael, works with childish energy, and continues to tell the story of his stolen opals. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-x) Eagerly recounts the theft of his opals to John Armitage, expressing regret. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-xi) Discussed as the victim of the opal theft; his loss is described as especially hard because he has 'the fever' for opal. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-xii) His stolen opals are discussed; Michael reflects on the possibility that the stones were removed before he left Newton's. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-xvi) Distraught over Sophie's leaving and the loss of his opals; suffers sunstroke and delirium. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-i) His opals are examined by Michael; he is mentioned as having shown them in Newton's bar. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-ii) Eagerly examines Roy O'Mara's opal find; quickly loses faith in the new claim. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) Owner of the missing opals; recovering from sunstroke, unaware of Michael's internal conflict. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-iv) Ill in bed; visited by Dawe Armitage; shown photographs of Sophie. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-v) Absent from the hut when Michael comes looking for him; has been restless and drinking since Sophie left. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-vi) Calls Sophie from the door of their hut; people from New Town have arrived to see her. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi) Overjoyed at the return of his opals, laughing and crying, forgetting everything else. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/paul - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters