\"IsGustavustobetrusted？\"
\"Trusted，ma’am！\"criedMr。Ferdinand，lookingatGustavus，whohadassumedanexpressionofpaleandpatheticdignity。\"Trusted——aLondonfootman！Oh，ma’am！\"
Hisvoicefailed。Hechokedandbegantorummageinthepocketofhisblacktailcoatforhisperfumedhandkerchief。
\"T’st，t’st！Imeanhisarms，\"saidMrs。Merillia，pattingherdelicatehandsquicklyonthechair。\"Canhecarryme？\"
ThecountenanceofMr。Ferdinandcleared，whileGustavuseagerlyextendedhisrightarm，bentitsharply，andallowedhismagnificentbicepstoriseupinsuddenmajesty。Mrs。Merilliawasreassured。
\"Hoistmetothedrawin’—room，then，\"shesaid。\"Hennessey，willyouwalkbehind？\"
Theprocessionwasformed，andthelittleoldladyproceededbyasuccessionofjerkstotheupperfloor，hersilkgownrustlingagainstthebalusters，andhertinyfeetdanglinglooselyinmid—air，whileherlongandelegantheadnoddedeachtimeMr。FerdinandandGustavusprancedcarefullysidewaystoahigherstep。TheProphetfollowedsolicitouslybehind，withhandsoutstretchedtocheckanydangerousrecoil。Hisfacewasverygrave，butnotentirelyunhappy。
\"Setmedownbythefire，\"saidMrs。Merillia，whenshefoundherselfbeingsmoothlypropelledthroughtheatmosphereofthedrawing—room。
Themenialsobeyedwithbreathlessassiduity。
\"Andnowbringmeasandwich，aglassoftoastandwaterandafan，ifyouplease。Yes，putthefootstoolwellunderme。\"
\"Dearestgrannie，\"saidtheProphet，whenthemenhadretired，\"areyouingreatpain？\"
\"No，Hennessey。Areyou？\"
Mrs。Merillia’sgreeneyestwinkled。
\"I！\"
\"Yes，atmyaccident。Formyankleissprained，I’malmostsure，andI
shallhavetolieuppresentlyinwetbandages。Tellme，areyoureallypainedthatIhavehadtheaccidentyouprophesied？\"
Sheglancedfromhergrandsontothetelescopethatpointedtowardthestarsandbackagain。
\"Iam，indeed，sincerelygrieved，\"theProphetansweredwithgenuineemotion。
\"Yes。ButifI’djumpedoutallright，andwassittin’herenowinaperfectconditionofhealth，you’dhavebeensincerelygrieved，too。\"
\"Ihopenot，grannie，\"saidtheProphet。Buthelookedmeditative。
Mr。Ferdinandbroughtthetoastandwater，thesandwichandthefan。
WhenhehadtroddenacrossthecarpetoutoftheroomMrs。Merilliacontinued，——
\"Hennessey，youseewherethispropheticbusinessisleadin’you。Ithasmadeyoucharmedatmyaccident。Yes，ithas。\"
Shespokewithoutanypathos，humorouslyindeed，inabrighttonefullofcommonsense。Andshenoddedathimoverhertoastandwaterwithachaffing，demuresmile。ButtheProphetwincedandputhishandtohisthickbrownhair。
\"No，no，\"hecriedquickly。\"That’simpossible。Itcan’tbe。\"Butthestatementssoundedlikeperturbedquestions。
\"Think！\"saidhisgrandmother，lookingdownatherpoor，helplessfootasitlayonthevelvetstool。\"IfIhadn’thadanaccidentto—night，you’dhavebeenobligedtothinkillof——of——whichofthemwasitthathadtheimpertinencetotalkmyaffairsoverwithyou？\"
\"MercuryandUranus，Jupiter，SaturnandVenus，\"saidtheProphetwithalmostterriblegravity。
\"Exactly。Ialwayshavethoughtillofthelast，butthat’snothin’todowithit。Weighmeinthebalanceagainstfiveplanets——aretheyallplanets？——andhowdothescalesgo？Yousee，Hennessey！\"
TheProphetlookedmuchdistressed。Hesawhisbelovedgrandmotherbythefireandthebrightstarstwinklingthroughthefrostywindow—
panes。Hethoughtofhistelescope，ofSirTiglath，ofMr。Malkiel，andofthefuture，andthevelvetybluewallsofthedrawing—roomseemedtospinroundhim。
\"Prophecy，\"continuedMrs。Merillia，fanningherselftillthelacelappetsofherpricelesscapflutteredaboveherorderlyandclaspingwig，\"isdangerous，foroftenitcancauseitsownfulfilment。Ifyouhadn’tsaidthatbecauseofacertainconjunctionofplanets——orwhateveritwas——inmyhoroscope，Ishouldhaveanaccidentto—night，I
shouldn’thavejumpedoutofthebrougham。IshouldhavewaitedforMr。
Ferdinandtoassistme，asbefitsagentlewoman。\"
\"But，grannie，IassureyouIwasmostanxioustosaveyou。IhopedI
hadmadeamistakeinyourhoroscope。Idid，really。IwassonervousthatIsenttoMr。Malkielwhileyouwereatthetheatreandimploredhimtolookintothematterasanexpert。\"
\"Mr。Malkiel！Whoishe？Doweknowhim？\"
\"No。Butweknowhismarvellous/Almanac/。\"
\"The/Almanac/person！Why，Malkielissurelyamyth，Hennessey，anumberofpeople，acompany，asyndicate，orsomethingofthatkind。\"
\"SoIthought，grannie。ButIhavemadeinquiries——throughadetectiveagency——andIhavediscoveredthatheisoneperson；infact，aman，justlikeyouandme。\"
\"Ratheranoddmanthen！IsheintheRedBook？\"
\"No。Heis，Iunderstand，ofaveryretiringandsecretivedisposition。
Infact，Ihavehadgreatdifficultyinlearninganythingabouthim。
ButatlengthIhavediscoveredthathereceivesandanswerslettersatanaddressinLondon。\"
\"Indeed。Whereisit？\"
\"Jellybrand’sLibrary，ElevenHundredZ，ShaftesburyAvenue。Isentaboymessengerthereto—day。\"
\"Didyoureceiveareply？\"
\"No。Ithinktheboy——althoughMr。Ferdinandtellsmeheworefourmedals，Ipresumeforcourage——musthavebecomenervousonperceivingMr。Malkiel’snameontheenvelope，havethrownthenotedownagrating，andboltedbeforehereachedtheplace，thoughhesaid——onhisBibleoath，IunderstandfromMr。Ferdinand——hedeliveredthenote。InanycaseIgotnoanswer。Howareyoufeeling？\"
\"Twisted，butprophetic。Iforetellthatmyanklewillbeswelledbeyondrecognitionto—morrow。Helpmetobed，Hennessey。\"
TheProphetflewtohisdearrelative’sassistance，andMrs。Merilliaendeavouredtoriseandtoleanuponhisanxiousarm。Afterastruggle，however，inwhichtheProphettookpartandtwochairswereoverset，shewasobligedtodesist。
\"Youmustringthebell，Hennessey，\"shesaid。\"Mr。FerdinandandGustavusmustcarrymetobedinthechair。\"
TheProphetsprangtragicallytothebell。Itwasanswered。Theprocessionwasre—formed，andMrs。Merilliawascarriedtobed，stillsmiling，noddingateachstairandbearingherselfwithadmirablecourage。
AsMr。FerdinandandGustavusdescendedtothebasementafterthecompletionoftheirunusualtask，thelattersaidsolemnly，——
\"Howevershouldmasterhavecometoknowasthemissiswouldn’tbeabletoputfoottofloorthisnight，Mr。Ferdinand？However？\"
\"Icannotansweryou，Gustavus，\"Mr。Ferdinandreplied，shakinghisbroadandglobe—likehead，roundwhosebaldcupolathejet—blackhairwasbrushedintwohalfmoonsdecoratedwitharenowned\"butler’sownspecialpomade。\"
\"Well，Mr。Ferdinand，\"rejoinedGustavus，stretchingoutonehandforpaleale，theotherfor/FrenchRevolution/，\"Idon’tlikeit。\"
\"Why，Gustavus？\"inquiredMr。Ferdinand，preparingtoresumehisdiscussionwiththeaccommodatingupperhousemaid。\"Why？\"
\"Becauseitseemsstrangelike，Mr。Ferdinand，\"saidGustavus，liftingtheglasstohislips，the/FrenchRevolution/tohiseyes。
\"Itdoseemstrange，Gustavus，\"answeredMr。Ferdinand，leavingoutthe\"like\"inacultivatedmanner。\"Itdo。\"
Inthedrawing—roomtheProphetstood，withclenchedhands，gazingthroughthetelescopeatMercuryandUranus，Jupiter，SaturnandVenus，while，onthesecondfloor，Mrs。FancyQuinglet，Mrs。Merillia’sdevoted，butoccasionallydisconcerting，maid，swathedhermistress’sankleinbandagespreviouslysteepedincoldwaterandinvinegar。
CHAPTERII
MALKIELTHESECONDISBETRAYEDBYTHEYOUNGLIBRARIAN
Mrs。Merillia’saccidentmadeaverydeepimpressionupontheProphet’smind。Hethoughtitovercarefully，anddesiredtodiscussitinallitsbearingswithMrs。FancyQuinglet，whohadbeenhisconfidanteforfullthirtyyears。Mrs。Fancy——whohadnotbeenmarried——wasnolongeraprettygirl。Indeeditwaspossiblethatshehadnever，eveninherheyday，beenotherwisethanmoderatelyplain。Now，attheageoffifty—
oneandahalf，shewasafaithfulcreaturewithathin，pendulousnose，apale，hystericeye，atendencytocoldintheheadandchilblainsintheautumnoftheyear，andasomewhatincoherentandoccasionallyfrenziedturnofmind。Argumentcouldneveratanytimehavehadmucheffectuponhernature，andasshegrewtowardsmaturityitspoweroverhermostmarkedlydecreased。Thisfactwasrecognisedbyeverybody，lastofallbyMrs。Merillia，whowasatlengthfullyconvincedoftheexistenceofcertaindepthsinhermaid’speculiarcharacterbythefollowingcircumstance。
Mrs。Merilliahadabandy—leggeddachshundcalledBeau，whosenamewasformanyyearsoftenaffectionately，andquitecorrectly，pronouncedbyFancyQuinglet。Oneday，however，shechancedtoseeitwrittenuponpaper——B。E。A。U。
\"Whateverdoesthatmean，ma’am？\"sheaskedofMrs。Merillia。
\"Why，Beau，ofcourse，Beau——thedog。Whatshoulditmean？\"
\"Bow？\"criedFancy。\"Ishewritso？\"
\"Ofcourse，sillygirl。ItiswrittenBeau，andyoucanpronounceitasyouwouldpronounceabowofribbon。\"
Fancysaidnomore，thoughitwaseasytoseethatshewasmuchshakenbythiscircumstance。Butshecouldneverafterwardsbeinducedtoutterherfavourite’sname。Shewasphysicallyunabletospeakthewordsostrangely，soalmostimpiously，spelt。Thisshedeclaredwithtears。
Persuasionandargumentwereunavailing。HenceforthBeauwasalwayscalledbyher\"thedog，\"anditwasobviousthat，hadshebeenledouttothestake，shemusthaveburnedratherthansaveherselfbyapronouncingofthecombinationoflettersbywhichshehadbeensolongdeceived。
SuchaninflexiblemindhadMrs。Fancy，towhomtheProphetnowappliedhimselfwithgesturesalmostSinaic。
Shewasdressedinmouse—colouredgrenadine，andwasseatedinasmallchamberopeningoutofMrs。Merillia’sbedroom，engagedinwhatshecalled\"plaintatting。\"
\"Fancy，\"saidtheProphet，enteringandclosingthedoorcarefully，\"youknowmewell。\"
\"Fromthebottle，sir，\"sheanswered，dartingtheboneimplementsinandout。
\"Haveyoueverthought——hasiteveroccurredtoyou——\"
\"Ican’tsayithas，sir，\"Fancyreplied，withtheweakdecisionpeculiartoher。
Shewaseverpronethustoanswerquestionsbeforetheywerefullyasked，orcouldbeproperlyunderstoodbyher，andfromsuchprematuredecisionsasshehastenedtogiveshecouldneverafterwardsbepersuadedtoretreat。KnowingthistheProphetsaidrapidly，——
\"Fancy，ifamanfindsoutthatheisaprophetwhatoughthetodo？\"
Thelady’s—maidrattledherbones。
\"Letitalone，sir，\"sheanswered。\"Letitalone，MasterHennessey。\"
\"Well，butwhatd’youmeanbythat？\"
\"WhatIsaysir。Ican’tspeakdifferent，normeanother。\"
\"Butcan’tyouexplain，Fancy？\"
\"Oh，MasterHennessey，thelivesthathavebeenwrecked，thehomesthathavebeenbrokeupbyexplainings！\"
Hereyeseemedsuddenlylitfromwithinbysomefeverofsad，worldlyknowledge。
\"Well，but——\"theProphetbegan。
\"Iknowit，MasterHennessey，andIcan’tknowother。\"
Shesighed，andhergazebecamefixedlikethatofatyphoidpatientinadream。
\"Themthatknowsotherletthemdeclareit，\"sheejaculated。\"Isayagain，asIdidafore——thehomesthathavebeenbrokenupbyexplainings！\"
Shetatted。TheProphetbowedbeforeherdecisionandlefttheapartmentfeelingratherhungry。FancyQuinglet’scrumbswerenotalwayscrumbsofcomfort。HeresolvedtoapplyagaintoMr。Malkiel，andthistimetomaketheapplicationinperson。ButbeforehedidsohethoughtitrighttotellMrs。Merillia，whowasstillsteepedinbandages，ofhisintention。HethereforewentstraighttoherroomfromFancyQuinglet’s。Mrs。MerilliawaslyinguponacouchreadingaRussiannovel。Acupofteastoodbesideheruponatablenearabowlofredandyellowtulips，acanarywassinginginitscageamidashowerofbird—seed，and\"thedog\"laystretchedbeforetheblazingfireuponamilk—whiterug，overwhichapalerayofwintersunshinefell。AstheProphetcameinMrs。Merilliaglancedup。
\"Hennessey，\"shesaid，\"youaregrowin’tolooklikeLordBrandling，whenhecombinedthePremiershipwiththeForeignOfficeandwehadthatdreadfulcomplicationwithIceland。Mydearboy，youarecorrugatedwiththoughtandcare。Whatisthematter？Myankleismuchbetter。Youneednotbeanxiousaboutme。HasVenusbeenplayingyouanotherjade’strick？\"
TheProphetsatdownandstrokedBeau’ssablebackwithhisforefinger。
\"IhavescarcelylookedatVenussinceyouwereinjured，grannie，\"heanswered。\"Ihavescarcelydaredto。\"
\"I’mgladtohearit。SincethedaysofAdonisshehasalwayshadadangerousinfluenceonyoungmen。Ifyouwanttolookatanybody，lookatthatpretty，sensiblecousinofRobertGreen’s。\"
\"LadyEnid。Yes，sheissensible。IbelievesheisinHampshirestayingwiththeChurchmores。\"
Helookedcalmerforamoment，butthecorrugatedexpressionquicklyreturned。
\"Grannie，\"hesaid，\"IthinkitmydutytomakeanefforttoseeMr。
Malkiel。\"
\"The/Almanac/man。Whatdoyouwantwithhim？\"
Shetappedoneofhersmall，mittenedhandsovertheotherandslightlytwistedherlongandpointednose。
\"Iwanttolearnhisviewsonthisstrangefacultyofprophecy。Hasiteveroccurredtoyouthatamongallourimmenseacquaintancewedon’tnumberasingleprophet？\"
\"Onecan’tknoweverybody，Hennessey。AndIbelievethatprophetsalwaysspringfromthelowerclasses。Thelinemustbedrawnsomewhereeveninthesedays。\"
\"Whynotdrawitatmillionairesthen？\"
\"Ishouldliketo。Somethin’willhavetobedone。Ifthenobodiescontinuetogoeverywheretheveryfewsomebodiesthatareleftwillsoongonowhere。
\"Perhapstheydogonowhere。Perhapsthatiswhywehavenevermetaprophet。\"
Mrs。Merillialookedupsharply，withherwide，cheerfulmouthsetawryinashrewdsmilethatseemedtosay\"Soho！\"Sherecognisedastrange，newnoteofprofound，thoughnotarrogant，self—respectinhergrandson。
\"Prophets，\"Hennesseyaddedmoregently，\"havealwaysbeeninclinedtodwellinthewilderness。\"
\"Butwherecanyoufindawildernessinthesedays？\"askedMrs。
Merillia，stillsmiling。\"EvenHammersmithisbecomin’quiteafashionableneighbourhood。Andyousaythatthe/Almanac/manlivesinShaftesburyAvenue，onlyhalfaminutefromPiccadillyCircus。\"
\"Mydeargrannie，\"hecorrectedher，\"Isaidhereceivedlettersthere。
Idon’tknowwherehelives。\"
\"Howareyougoin’tofindhimthen？\"
\"IshallcallthisafternoonatelevenhundredZ。\"
\"Toseeifhehasruninforapostcard！Andwhatsortofpersondoyouexpecthimtobe？\"
\"Somethingquiteoutofthecommon。\"
Mrs。Merilliascreweduphereyesdoubtfully。
\"Ihopeyouwon’tbedisappointed。Howmanyeditionshavetherebeenofthe/Almanac/？\"
\"Seventyyearlyeditions。\"
\"ThenMalkielmustbeaveryoldman。\"
\"ButthisMr。MalkielisMalkieltheSecond。\"
\"Oneofadynasty！Thataltersthecase。Perhapshe’sayoungmanabouttown。Thereareyoungmenabouttown，Ibelieve，whohaveaddressesatclubsandlibraries，andsleepondoorsteps，orinthePark。Well，Hennessey，Iseeyouaregettingfidgety。Youhadbetterbeoff。Buymesomerosesformyroomonyourwayhome。I’mexpectin’someonetohaveteawiththepoorvictimofprophecythisafternoon。\"
TheProphetkissedhisgrandmother，putonhisovercoatandsteppedintothesquare。
Itwasabright，frosty，genialday，andheresolvedtowalktoJellybrand’sLibrary。
Londonwaslookingquitelight—heartedinthedry，coldair，whichsetabloomevenuponthecheeksoftheambassadorswhowereabout，andcausedthebutcherboystoappearlikepeonies。Thecrossing—sweeperssweptnothingvigorously，andwererewardedwithshowersofpencefrompedestriansdelightingintheabsenceofmud。CrystalassomegardenofaneternalcityseemedthegreenPark，wrappedinitsfrostymantleembroideredwithsunbeams。Eventhedriversofthe\"growlers\"weremoderatelycheerful——averyrareoccurrence——andtheblindmanofPiccadillysmiledasheroaredalongthehighway，strikingthefeetofthecharitablewiththewandwhichwastheemblemofhisprofession。
OnlytheProphetwassolemnonthisdeliciousafternoon。Peoplelookedathimandthoughtthathemustsurelybetherichestmanofthetown。
Hisfacewassosad。
Hewoundacrossthewhirlpool，wherethegreenimageposturestothehumanstreamsthatriotbelowit。Hesawbeneaththeirroovesofostrichfeathersthegirlsshaketheirlongearringsabovesweetvioletsandrosesfaintingwithdesiretobeboughtbycountrycousins。
\"WhereiselevenhundredZ，ifyouplease？\"heaskedtheShaftesburyAvenuepoliceman。
\"Jellybrand’ssir？Ontherightbetweenthecreamshopandtheenginewarehouse，justoppositetheplacewheretheysellparrots，afterthattherepatentmedicinedepot。\"
TheProphetbowed，thinkingoftheblessingsofknowledge。Inamomenthestoodbeforethelibraryandglancedatitsdirtywindow。Hesawseveralletterslyingagainsttheglass。Onewasaddressedto\"MissMinervaPartridge。\"Hesteppedin，wonderingwhatshewaslike。
Jellybrand’sLibrarywasasmall，squareroomcontainingaletterrack，anewspaperstand，abookcaseandacounter。Itwasfittedupwithletters，papers，books，andabigboywithabulginghead。Thelast—
namedstoodbehindthecounter，strokinghisirregularprofilewithonehand，andthrowingaboxofJnibsintotheairandcatchingitwiththeother。UpontheProphet’sentrancethisyouthobliginglydroppedthenibsaccidentallyuponthefloor，andarrangedhissharpandanemicfaceinanexpressionofconsumptiveinquiry。TheProphetapproachedthecountersoftly，andallowedthesablewithwhichhiscoatwastrimmedtorestagainstit。
\"DidaboymessengercallhereafewdaysagowithanoteforMr。
Malkiel？\"heasked。
Theyounglibrarianassumedanattitudeofvitalsuspicionandtheexpressionofalynx。
\"ForMalkieltheSecond，sir？\"herepliedinapiercingsopranovoice。
\"Yes，\"saidtheProphet。\"Aboymessengerwithfourmedals。Therewasacrestontheenvelope——anelephantrampantsurroundedbyaswarmofbees。\"
Adoggedlookofcombinedterrorandresolutionoverspreadtheyounglibrarian’scountenance。
\"There’sbeennoelephantandnoswarmofbeesinhere，\"hesaidwithtremblingcurtness。
\"Youaresureyouwouldhaverememberedthecircumstanceiftherehadbeen？\"
\"Rather！Whatdoyouthink？Wedon’tallowthingsofthemsortinhere，Icantellyou。\"
TheProphetdrewouthalfasovereign，uponwhicharayofsunshineimmediatelyfellasifinbenediction。
\"DoesMr。Malkiel——？
\"MalkieltheSecond，\"interruptedtheyounglibrarian，whosepinkisheyeswinkedattheilluminationofthegold。
\"MalkieltheSecondevercallhere——inperson？\"
\"Inperson？\"saidtheyounglibrarian，verysuspiciously。
\"Exactly。\"
\"Idon’tknowaboutinperson。Hecallshere。\"
\"Ah，\"saidtheProphet，recognisingintheyouthaliterarysensethatinstinctivelyrejectedsuperfluity。\"Hedoescall。MayIaskwhen？\"
\"Whenhechooses，\"saidtheyounglibrarian，andhewinkedagain。
\"Doeshechooseoften？\"
\"He’sgothisday，likeMissPartridgeandlotsof’em。\"
\"Isee。Ishisday——bychance——aThursday？\"
ItwasaThursdayafternoon。
\"Idon’tknowaboutbychance，\"rejoinedtheyounglibrarian，hisliterarysenseagaincomingintoplay。\"Butit’s——\"
Atthismomentthelibrarydooropened，andatall，thin，middle—agedmanwalkedinsidewayswithhisfeetverymuchturnedouttorightandleftofhim。
\"Anyletters，FrederickSmith？\"hesaidinahollowvoice，onreachingthecounter。
\"Two，Mr。Sagittarius，Ibelieve，\"repliedtheyounglibrarian，movingwithrespectfulceleritytowardstheletterrack。
TheProphetstartedandlookedeagerlyatthenewcomer。Hiseyesresteduponanindividualwhosefacewascomicinoutlinewithaseriousexpression，andwhoseformsuggestedtragicfarcedressedtorepresentcommonplace，asseenatMargateandelsewhere。Atophat，aspottedcollar，apinkshirt，awhitesatintie，achocolatebrownfrockcoat，browntrousersandboots，andablackovercoatthrownopenfromtoptobottom——theseappurtenances，clerklyintheiradherencetoacertainconvention，couldnotwhollydisguisetheemotionalexpressionthatseemssometimestolurkinshape。ThelinesofMr。Sagittariusdefiedtheirclothing。Hisshouldersgavethelietothechocolatebrownfrockcoat。Hislegsbreatheddefiancetothetrousersthatsheathedthem。
Onecould，infancy，seetheformershruggedinalltheabandonmentofthird—actdespair，beholdthelatterdartingwildlyforthecoveraffordedbyacopper，acupboard，oranyotherfriendlyrefugeofthosepoorvictimsofludicrousandterrificcircumstancewhoaresosorelysmittenandafflicteduponthefunnystage。
Mr。Sagittarius，infine，seemedamandressedinamaskthatwasunabletodeceive。Hisleanfacewasalmostabsurdinitsirregularity，itshighcheek—bonesanddeepdepressions，itssharpnose，extensivemouthandnervouschin。Butthepaleblueeyesthatwereitssoulshoneplaintivelybeneaththeirshaggy，blondeeyebrows，andevenanapplicationofpomadealmosthystericallylavishcouldnotentirelyconcealthecurlinggloomoftheheavy，mattedhair。
\"Yes，two，Mr。Sagittarius，\"criedtheyounglibrarian，approachingfromtherack。
Thegentlemanheldoutahandcoveredwithayellowdogskinglove。
\"Thankyou，FrederickSmith，\"hesaid。
Andheturnedtoleavethebuilding。ButtheProphetinterceptedhim。
\"Excuseme，\"saidtheProphet。\"Ibegyourpardon，but——but——\"helookedattheyounglibrarianandaccidentallyletthehalfsovereignfallonthecounter。Itgavethetruering。\"IbelieveIheardyoumention——letdropthenameMr。Sagittarius。\"
\"Idon’tknowaboutletdrop，\"begantheyouthinhisusualrevisingmanner。\"ButI——\"
Atthispointthegentlemaninquestionbegantomoveratherhastilysidewaystowardsthedoor。TheProphetfollowedhimupandgotbeforehimneartheletterrack，whiletheyounglibrarianretrievedthehalfsovereignandbititwithhisteeth。