\"Ah！\"
\"Iknow。YouthinkthatproveshimthecontraryofwhatI’vesaid。\"
\"Notatall！\"exclaimedtheProphet，withfrenziedcourtesy，\"notatall！\"
\"Yes，youdo。Butyou’rewrong。Hedoesn’texactlyadmiremycharacter，buthelikesmebecauseI’mtall，andhavepleasantcolouredeyes，andthickhair，andwalkwell，andknowthathe’sreallyanunusuallysensibleoldman。\"
\"Oh，isthatit？\"
\"Yes。Butnow，ifhecouldbemadetothinkthatIreallyamwhatI
looklike——athoroughlysensibleyoungwoman，hewouldmorethanadmireme，hewouldadoreme。\"
\"Butifyouwishhimto？\"askedtheProphetinblankamazement。
\"Ido。\"
\"Why？\"
\"TheMissMinervapartofmedesiresit。\"
\"Indeed。\"
\"Yes。He’sgottodooneortwothingsforMissMinervawithoutknowingthatI’mMissMinerva。ThatiswhyIboltedintotheparlouryesterday。
JustasIwassteppingintoJellybrand’sIhappenedtoseeSirTiglathandhehappenedtothinkhesawme。\"
\"Onlytothink？\"
\"Yes。Heisnotcertain。Isawthatbytheexpressionofhisface。HewaswonderingwhetherIwasme——orisitI？——ornot。Ididn’tgivehimtimetobecertain。Irushedintotheparlour。\"
\"Youdid。\"
\"Soit’sallright。FrederickSmithwouldneverbetrayaclient。\"
\"Really？\"
\"Never；soI’msaved。ForSirTiglathisn’tcertainevennow。Ifoundthatoutonthewayhomewithhimlastnight。Andanoldmanwho’suncertainofthetruthcansoonbemadecertainofthelie，byayoungwomanheadmires，howeversensibleheis。AndnowI’lltellyoupartofwhatIwantSirTiglathtodoforMissMinerva——\"
Butatthismomenttheclockstruckfive，andtheProphetboundedupwithhystericalactivity，andhastilytookhisleave，promisingtocallagainandhearmoreonthefollowingday。
\"Andtellmore，\"thoughtLadyEnidtoherselfasthedoorofthesensible—lookingboudoirshutbehindhim。
CHAPTERVIII
THEPROPHETRECEIVESHISDIRECTIONSFROMMADAME
WhentheProphetreachedhisdoorherangthebellwitharatherfalteringhand。Mr。Ferdinandappeared。
\"Anyonecalled，Mr。Ferdinand？\"askedtheProphetwithanattemptatairygaiety。
\"Yes，sir，\"repliedMr。Ferdinand，lookingratherlikeanelderlymaidenladywhensheunexpectedlyencountershercooktakinganairingwithacorporalintheLifeGuards，\"thepairofpersonsyouexpected，sir，hascome。\"
TheProphetblushed。
\"Oh！You——youhaven’tdisturbedMrs。Merilliawiththem，Ihope，\"herejoined。
\"No，sir，indeed。Gustavussaidyourorderswasthattheywastobeshownquietlytothelibrary。\"
\"Exactly。\"
\"Ibeggedthemtowalka—tiptoe，sir。\"
\"What？\"ejaculatedtheProphet。
\"Iinformedthemtherewasillnessinthehouse，sir。\"
\"Anddidthey——er——？\"
\"Themalepersongotonhistoesatonce，sir，butthefemalepersonshrieksout，’Isitcatching？Ho！Thinkof——ofCapericornopus，’sir，orsomethingtothateffect。\"
\"Tch！Tch！\"
\"Itookthelibertytosay，sir，thatankleswasnotcatching，andthatIwouldcertainlythinkofCapericornopusifshewouldbutwalka—
tiptoe。\"
\"Well，and——\"
\"ByhookandcookIgotthemtothelibrary，sir。Butthemaleperson’sbootscreakedawful。Thegettingonhistoes，sirseemedtoinduceit，asyoumightsay。\"
\"Yes，yes。Sothey’reinthelibrary？\"
\"Theyare，sir，andhavebeentalkingincessant，sir，eversincetheywasputthere。Wecanheartheirvoicesinourhall，sir。\"
Mr。Ferdinandagainpursedhislipsandlookedlikeanelderlylady。
TheProphetcouldnolongermeethiseye。
\"Bringsometea，Mr。Ferdinand，quietlytothelibrary。And——andifMrs。MerilliashouldaskformesayI’m——sayI’mbusy——er——writing。\"
Mr。Ferdinandmovedastepbackward。
\"MasterHennessey！\"hecriedinachokedvoice。I，aLondonbutler，andyouaskmeto——！\"
\"No，no。Ibegyourpardon，Mr。Ferdinand。SimplysayI’mbusy。Thatwillbequitetrue。Ishallbe——verybusy。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidMr。Ferdinandwithasternandatlengthsuccessfulefforttoconquerhisoutragedfeelings。
Hewaveredheavilyawaytofetchthetea，whiletheProphet，likeaguiltything，stoletowardsthelibrary。Whenhedrewneartothedoorheheardasomewhatresoundinghubbubofconversationproceedingwithinthechamber。Hedistinguishedtwovoices。OnewasthehollowandsepulchralorganofMalkieltheSecond，theotherwasaheavyandauthoritativecontralto，ofthebuzzingvariety，whichoccasionallygaveanalmostprofessionalclick——suggestingmechanism——asthespeakerpassedfromthelowertotheupperregisterofhervoice。AstheProphetreachedthematoutsidethedoorheheardthecontraltovoicesay，——
\"Howarewetoknowitreallyisonlyankles？\"
ThevoiceofMalkieltheSecondrepliedplaintively，——
\"Butthegentlemanwhoopenedthedoorand——\"
Thecontraltovoiceclicked，andpassedtoitsupperregister。
\"Youareoverfiftyyearsofage，\"itsaidwithdevastatingcompassion，\"andyoucanstilltrustagentlemanwhoopensdoors！/Osanctumsimplicitatus！/\"
OnhearingthissuddengushofclassicaleruditiontheProphetmusthavebeenseizedbyaparalysingawe，forheremainedasifgluedtothemat，andmadenoefforttoopenthedoorandstepintotheroom。
\"IfIamsanctified，Sophronia，\"saidthevoiceofMalkiel，\"Icannothelpit，indeedIcan’t。Weareasweare。\"
\"DidBottomsaysoinhisepics？\"criedthecontralto，contemptuously。
\"DidShakespeareimplythatwhenheinventedhisimmortalBacon，orCarlyle，thegreatCumberlandsage，whenhepennedhisworld—famed’Sartus’？\"
\"P’r’apsnot，mydear。Youknowbest。Still，ordinarymen——notthatI，ofcourse，canclaimtobeone——mustremain，toacertainextent，whattheyare。\"
\"ThenwhywasSamuelSmilesborn？\"
\"What，mylove？\"
\"Why，Isay？Whereistheuseofeffort？OfwhatbenefitwasPlato’sexistencetotherepublic？OfwhatassistancehasthegreatTracyTupperbeenifmenmuststill，despiteallhisproverbs，remainwhattheyare？/Ocurumhominibus！Oimitatori！Servuspecum！/\"
AtthispointthevoiceofMr。FerdinandremarkedinthesmalloftheProphet’sback，——
\"ShallIsetdowntheteaonthemat，sir，or——\"
TheProphetboundedintothelibrary，tinglingineveryvein。Hispanther—likeentranceevidentlytookthetwoconversationalistsaback，forMalkieltheSecond，whohadbeenplaintivelypromenadingabouttheroom，stillonhistoesaccordingtothebehestofMr。Ferdinand，satdownviolentlyonasmalltableasifhehadbeenshot，whilethecontraltovoice，whichhadbeensittingonasaddle—backchairbythehearth，simultaneouslybouncedup；boththeseproceedingsbeingcarriedoutwiththefranticpromptitudecharacteristicofcompleteandunhesitatingterror。
\"Ibegyourpardon！\"saidtheProphet。\"IhopeIhaven’tdisturbedyou。\"
MalkieltheSecondleanedback，thecontraltovoiceleanedforward，andbothbreathedconvulsively。
\"Ireallymustapologise，\"continuedtheProphet。\"IfearIhavestartledyou。\"
Hisguestsswallowednothingsimultaneouslyandmechanicallydrewouttheirhandkerchiefs。ThenMalkielfeeblygotupandthecontraltovoicefeeblysankdownagain。
\"I——IthoughtIsaidsharp，sir，\"remarkedMalkiel，atlength，withagreateffortrecoveringhimself。
\"Wasn’tIsharp？\"returnedtheProphet。\"Willyoupresentme？\"
\"Areyouequaltoit，mylove？\"inquiredMalkiel，tenderly，tothecontraltovoice。
Thecontraltovoicenoddedhysterically。
\"MadameSagittarius，sir，\"saidMalkiel，turningproudlytotheProphet，\"mywife，themotherofCoronaandCapricornus。\"
TheProphetbowedandtheladyinclinedherself，slightlyprotrudingherelbowsasshedidso，asifjusttodrawattentiontothefactthatshewaspossessedofthoseappendagesandcouldusethemifnecessary。
MadameMalkiel，orratherMadameSagittarius，asshemustforthepresentbecalled，wasasmallishwomanofsomefortywinters。Herhair，whichwasdrawnawayintellectuallyfromanampleanddecidedlyconvexbrow，wasasblackasapatentleatherboot，andhadaglossuponitasofcarefully—adjustedvarnish。Hereyeswereverylarge，verydarkandveryprominent。Herfeatureswereobstreperousandrippling，runningfromrighttoleft，andherteeth，whichwereshadedbyatinyblackmoustache，gleamedinamannerthatcouldscarcelybecallednatural。Shewasattiredinablackvelvetgowntrimmedwithaverylargequantityofbeadwork，abonnetadornedwithpurplecherries，greentulipsandorange—colouredostrichtips，apelisse，towhichbugleshadbeenappliedwithnouncertainhand，andanopalnecklace。
Hergloveswereofwhite，herbootsofblackkid，thelatterbeingfurnishedwithelasticsides，andoverherleftwristshecarriedaplushreticule，whosemouthwaskeptshutbyatightly—drawnscarletriband。OntheleftsideofherpelissereposedaroundbouquetofvioletsaboutthesizeofaRugbyfootball。
\"Ithoughtyoumightliketohavesometea，\"begantheProphet，inhismostsoothingmanner，whileMr。Ferdinand，withpursedlips，softlyarrangedthatbeverageupontheseatwhichMr。Sagittarius——sowemustcallhim——hadjustvacated。
\"Thankyou，\"saidMadameSagittarius，withdignity。\"Itwouldbeacceptable。ThelongjourneyfromthebanksoftheMousetothesecentraldistrictsisnotwithoutitsfatigue。Abeautifulequipage！\"
\"Yousaid——\"
\"Youhaveaveryfineequipage。\"
\"Youhaveseenthebrougham？\"saidtheProphet，insomesurprise。
\"Whatbroom？\"buzzedMadameSagittarius。
\"Ithoughtyouwereadmiring——\"
\"Theteaequipage。\"
\"Oh，yes，tobesure。QueenAnnesilver，yes。\"
\"Agreatwoman！\"saidMadameSagittarius，spreadingasilkhandkerchiefthatexactlymatchedtheostrichtipsinherbonnetcarefullyoverhervelvetlap。\"AllwhohavereadMrs。Markham’sworkofgeniuswithunderstandingmustholdhernameinreverence。Anoblecreature！Apityshedied！\"
\"Agreatpityindeed！\"
\"Stillwemustrememberthat/Morsomniscommunibus/。Wemustnotforgetthat。\"
\"No，no。\"
\"AndafterallitisthewillofProvidence。/MorsDeo/。\"
\"Quiteso。\"
DuringthisclassicalandhistoricalretrospectMr。Ferdinandhadfinishedhistaskandquittedtheapartment。AssoonashehadgoneMadameSagittariuscontinued，——
\"AsthemotherofCoronaandCapricornusIfeelitmydutytoaskyou，sir——thatis，Mr。——\"
\"Vivian。\"
\"Mr。Vivian，whethertheillnessinyourhouseisreallyonlyanklesasthegentlemanwhoopenedthedoorassuredme？\"
\"Itisonlythat。\"
\"Notcatching？\"
\"Oh，dear，no。\"
\"There，Sophronia！\"saidMr。Sagittarius。\"Itoldyouitwasmerelytheprophecy。\"
Hesuddenlyassumedaformidablemanner，andcontinued，——
\"Andnow，sir，thatwearealone——\"
ButMadameinterruptedhim。
\"Kindlypermitourhosttosuccourmyfatigue，Jupiter，\"shesaidseverely。\"Iamgreatlyupsetbythejourney。WhenIamrestoredwecanproceedtobusiness。AtpresentIamfitonlyforconsolation。\"
Mr。Sagittariussubsided，andtheProphethastilyassistedthevictimofprolongedtraveltosomebutteredtoast。Havingalsoattendedtothewantsofherprecipitateunderling，hethoughtitagoodopportunitytoproceedtoafullexplanationwiththeaugustcouple，andhethereforeremarked，withaningratiatingandalmosttendersmile，——
\"IthinkIoughttotellyouatoncethattherewillbenoneedforanyfurtheranxietyonyourpart。Ihaveputdownmytelescopeandhave——
well，infact，Ihavedecidedonceandforalltogiveupprophecyforthefuture。\"
TheProphet，inhisinnocence，hadexpectedthatthisdeclarationofpolicywouldexerciseasoothinginfluenceuponhisguests，moreespeciallywhenheadded——itistobefearedwithsomeinsincerity，——
\"IhavecometotheconclusionthatIoverratedmypowers，asamateurswill，youknow，andthatIhaveneverreallypossessedanyspecialtalentinthatdirection。IthinkIshalltakeupgolfinstead，orperhapsthemotorcar。\"
Hespokedeliberatelyinalight—minded，evenfrivolous，manner，toyingairilywithasugarbiscuit，asheleanedbackinhischair，whichstoodoppositetoMadameSagittarius’s。Tohisgreatsurprisehiswell—
meaningremarkswerereceivedwitheverysymptomofgravedissatisfactionbyhisillustriouscompanions。MadameSagittariusthrewherselfsuddenlyforwardwithamostvivacioussnort，andherhusband’sfacewasimmediatelyovercastbyathreateninggloomthatseemedtoportendsomeverydisagreeableexpressionofadversehumour。
\"Thatwon’tdo，sir，atthistimeofday！\"heexclaimed。\"Youshouldhavethoughtofthatyesterday。Thatwon’tdoatall，willit，Madame？\"
\"/Omiserishominorummentas/！\"exclaimedthatlady，tragically。\"/O
pectoraecaecae/！\"
\"Youhearher，sir？\"continuedMr。Sagittarius。\"Yougrasphermeaning？\"
\"Idohearcertainly，\"saidtheProphet，beginningtofeelthathereallymustrubuphisclassics。
\"ShehelpsCapricornus，sir，ofanevening。SheassistshiminhisLatin。Madameisaladyofdeepeducation，sir。\"
\"Quiteso。But——\"
\"Therecanbenogoingback，sir，\"continuedMr。Sagittarius。\"Canthere，Madame？\"
\"Nohumancreaturecangoback，\"saidMadameSagittarius。\"SuchisthenaturallawasexemplifiedbythegreatCharlesDarwininhis/VegetableMouldandSilkworms/。Nohumancreaturecangoback。Leastofallthisgentleman。Hemustgoforwardandwewithhim。\"
TheProphetbegantofeeluncomfortable。
\"But——\"hesaid。
\"Thereisnosuchwordas’but’inmydictionary，\"retortedthelady。
\"Ah，anabridgededition，nodoubt，\"saidtheProphet。\"Still——\"
\"Iambetternow，\"interposedMadameSagittarius，brushingsomecrumbsoftoastfromherpelissewiththeorangehandkerchief。\"Jupiter，ifyouareready，wecanexplainthetesttothegentleman。\"
Sosayingshedrewavinaigrette，setwithfineimitationcarbuncles，fromtheplushreticule，andapplieditmajesticallytohernose。TheProphetgrewreallyperturbed。HerememberedhispromisetohisgrandmotherandSirTiglath，andfeltthathemustasserthimselfmorestrongly。
\"Iassureyou，\"hebegan，withsomeshowoffirmness，\"notestswillbenecessary。Mytelescopehasalreadybeenremovedfromitsposition，and——\"
\"Thenitmustbereinstated，sir，\"saidMr。Sagittarius，\"andthisverynight。Madamehashituponaplan，sir，ofsearchingyoutothequick。
Trustawoman，sir，todothat。\"
\"IshouldnaturallytrustMadameSagittarius，\"saidtheProphet，verypolitely。\"ButIreallycannot——\"
\"Soyousay，sir。Ourbusinessistofindoutwhether，livingintheBerkeleySquareasyoudo，youcanbringoffaprophecyofanyimportanceornot。Thefutureofmyself，Madameandfamilydependsupontheresultsoftheexperimentswhichweshallmakeuponyouduringthenextfewdays。\"
TheProphetbegantofeelasifhewereshutupalonewithacoupleofdeterminedpractitionersofvivisection。
\"Let’ssee，mydear，\"continuedMr。Sagittarius，addressinghiswife，\"whatwasittobe？\"
\"Thehonoredgrandmotherone，\"repliedthelady，tersely。
TheProphetstarted。
\"Icannotpossiblyconsent——\"hebegan。
\"Pray，Mr。Vivian，listentome，\"interposedMadameSagittarius。
\"Pray，sir，attendtoMadame！\"saidMr。Sagittarius，sternly。
\"ButImustreally——\"
\"January，\"saidMadame，\"isamonthofgraveimportancetograndmothersthisyear，isitnot，Jupiter？\"
\"Yes，mydear。InconsequenceofScorpiobeinginthesignofSagittarius。ThecrabwillbeverybusyuptillthethirdofFebruary。\"
\"Justso。\"
\"Atwhichdatethelittledog，mylove，assumestherollofmaleficencetowardstheaged。\"
\"Iknow。/Canecavem/。Whenwastheoldladyborn，Mr。Vivian，ifyouplease？\"
\"Whatoldlady？\"stammeredtheProphet，beginningtoperspire。
\"Theoldladywho’sgotankles，yourhonouredgrandmother？\"
\"Onthetwentiethofthismonth。But——\"
\"Atwhattime？\"
\"Sixinthemorning。But——\"
\"Underwhatstar？\"
\"Saturn。But——\"
\"That’slucky，isn’tit，Jupiter？\"saidMadame，inanincreasinglybusiness—likemanner。\"ThatbringsherintotouchwiththeCamelopard——
doesn’tit？\"
\"Intoveryclosetouchindeed，mydear，andalsowiththebull。Hegoesrighttoher，asyoumaysay。\"
\"Icannotconceivablypermit——\"begantheProphetinmuchagitation。
ButMadame，withouttakingthesmallestnoticeofhim，proceeded。
\"Willthescorpionberoundheronherbirthday？\"
\"Closeroundher，mylove——withtheserpent。Theyworktogether。\"
\"Together，dothey？Youknowwhateffectthey’llhaveonher，don’tyou，Jupiter？\"
\"Ishouldratherthinkso，mydarling，\"repliedMr。Sagittarius，withanairofprofoundandsinisterinformation。
TheProphet’sbloodrancoldinhisveins。Yethefeltforthemomentunabletoutterasyllable，oreventomakeagestureofprotest。Soentirelydetachedfromhimdidtheworthycoupleappeartobe，socompletelywrappedupintheirownevidentlywell—consideredandcarefully—laidplans，thathehadasenseofbeinginanothersphere，nottheirs，ofhearingtheirremarksfromsomedistanceoff。MadameSagittariusnowturnedtowardshiminaformalmanner，andcontinued。
\"Andnow，Mr。Vivian，Ishallhavetolaydowntheprocedurethatyouwillfollow。Haveyouagoodmemory——no，apencilandnotebookwillbebest。/Litteraescriptusmanetur/，asweallknowfullwell。Haveyouapenciland——？\"
TheProphetnoddedmechanically。
\"Willyoukindlygetthem？\"
TheProphetrose，walkedtohiswritingtableandfeltfortheimplements。
\"IfyouwillsitdownnowIwilldirectyou，\"continuedMadame，authoritatively。
TheProphetsatdownatthetable，holdingaleadpencilupsidedowninonehandandanaccount—bookwrongsideupintheother。
\"Let’ssee——what’sto—day？\"inquiredMadame，ofherhusband。
\"Theseventeenth，mydear，\"repliedMr。Sagittarius，lookingathiswifewithalmostsicklyadoration。
\"Tobesure。Capricornus’sdayforHomer’sIdyl。Verywell，Mr。Vivian，to—daybeingtheseventeenth，andtheoldlady’sbirthdaythetwentieth，youhavethreedays，orrathernights，ofsteadyworkbeforeyou。\"
\"Steadywork？\"murmuredtheProphet。
\"Whatshouldbehishours，Jupiter？\"continuedMadame。\"Atwhattimeofnightishetocommence？ShallIsaynine？\"
TheProphetrememberedfeeblythat，duringthenextthreenights，hehadtwoimportantdinner—engagements，apartyattheRussianAmbassador’s，andareceptionattheLordChancellor’sjustopposite。
However，hemadenoremark。Somehowhefeltthatwordswereuselesswhenconfrontedwithsuchanironwillasthatoftheladyinthepelisse。
\"Ninewouldbetooearly，mydear，\"saidMr。Sagittarius。\"Elevenp。m。
wouldbemoretothepurpose。\"
\"Elevenletitbethen，punctually。Willyoudotdown，Mr。Vivian，thatyouhavetobeatthetelescopetotakeobservationsatelevenp。m。
everynightfromnowtillthetwentieth。\"
\"ButIhavehadthetelesc——\"
\"Kindlydotitdown。\"
TheProphetdotteditdownwiththewrongendofthepencilonthewrongsideoftheaccount—book。
\"Andwhatarehishourstobeexactly，Jupiter？\"continuedMadame。
\"Fromeleventilldawn，Isuppose？\"
TheProphetshuddered。
\"Eleventillthreewillbesufficient，mylove。Thecrab，youknow，hasprettywelldonehisLondonworkbythattime。Andtheoldladywillhavetodependverymuchonthecrabforthesefewnights。\"
AtthispointtheProphet’sbrainbegantoswim。Sparksseemedtofloatbeforehiseyes，andamidthesesparks，nebulousandfragmentaryvisionsappeared，visionsofhisbelovedgrandmothercompanionedbyscorpionsandserpents，inclosetouchwithcamelopardsandbovinemonsters，and，inthelaststressofterroranddismay，leftentirelydependentuponcrustaceansforthathelpandcomfortwhichhithertoherdevotedgrandsonhadeverbeenthankfultoafford。
\"Oh，verywell，\"repliedMadame。\"Youwillbeabletogettobedatthree，Mr。Vivian。Dotthatdown。\"
\"Thankyou，\"murmuredtheProphet，makingaminutepencilscratchinthemidstofabillforbutcher’smeat。
\"Duringthesehours——butyoucantellhimtherest，Jupiter。\"
Sosaying，andwithanairofoneretiringfrombusinessuponawell—
earnedcompetence，MadameSagittariuslaybackinherchair，settledherbonnet—strings，flickedacrumbfromthefootballofvioletsthatdecoratedherleftside，and，extendingherkidbootstowardsthecheerfulblazethatcamefromthefire，fellwithasighintoacomfortablemeditation。Mr。Sagittarius，ontheotherhand，assumedalookofratherhectoringauthority，andwasabouttoutterwhattheProphethadverylittledoubtwasacommandwhentherecameagentletaptothedoor。
\"Comein，\"saidtheProphet。
Hethoughthehadspokeninhisordinaryvoice。Inrealityhehadmerelyutteredaverysmallwhisper。Thetapwasrepeated。
\"Louder，sir，louder！\"saidMr。Sagittarius，encouragingly。
\"Comein！\"shriekedtheProphet。
Mr。Ferdinandappeared，lookingmoreliketheelderlyspinsterladywhenconfrontedwiththecorporalintheLifeGuardsthanever。
\"Ifyouplease，sir，IwastotellyouthatLadyEnidThistleiswithMrs。Merilliatakingtea。Mrs。Merilliathoughtyouwouldwishtoknow。\"
MadameSagittariustookthekidbootsfromtheblazeonhearingthisaristocraticname。Mr。Sagittariusassumedalookofreverence，andtheProphetrealised，moreacutelythanever，thatevenwell—bornyoungwomencanbeinquisitive。
\"Verywell，\"hesaid。\"SayI’ll——I’ll\"——hesucceededinmakinghisvoicesoundabsolutelyfirm——\"I’llcomeinamoment。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"