"Oh，apolopony。Thanks，Chin，chin，Hen。Poloponyisit？"
　　Hestrodeoff，whistling"Sheworeawreathofroses"inapuzzledmanner，butstillpreservingtheaccepteddemeanourofabulwark。
　　AssoonasMr。GreenwasoutofsightLadyEnidsaid，——
　　"Wearen’tgoingtoHillStreet。"
　　"Aren’twe？"repliedtheProphet，feebly。
　　"No。ImustseeSirTiglathButtto—day。Iwantyoutotakemetohisdoor。"
　　"Whereishisdoor？"
　　"InKensingtonSquare。Doyoumindhailingafour—wheeler。Wecantalkprivatelythere。Noonewillhearus。"
　　TheProphethailedagrowler，wonderingwhethertheywouldbeabletoheareachother。AstheygotinLadyEnid，aftergivingthedirection，saidtothecabman，whowasashortperson，withcurlingebonwhiskers，abroken—upexpressionandabroken—downmanner：
　　"Driveslowly，pleaseandI’llgiveyouanextrasix—pence。"
　　"Lydy？"
　　"Driveslowly，andI’llgiveyouanothersix—pence。"
　　"HowdidyerthinkIwasgawingtodrive，lydy？"
　　"Iwonderwhycabmenarealwayssointerestedinone’sinmostthoughts，"saidLadyEnid，asthehorsefelldownpreparatorytostarting。
　　"Iwonder。"
　　"Ihopehewillgoslowly。"
　　"Heseemstobedoingso。"
　　Atthispointthehorse，afterknockingonthefrontofthecabwithhishindfeettenoradozentimes，gotup，hunghishead，anddrewalargenumberofdeepanddejectedbreaths。
　　"AmIgawingslowlyenough，lydy？"askedthecabman，anxiously。
　　"Yes，butyoucanlethimtrotalongnow。"
　　"Right，lydy，Iain’tpreventingofhim。"
　　AseventuallytheyscrambledslowlyforwardintheKensingtondirection，LadyEnidremarked，——
　　"Whydon’tyouhavethemsenttoJellybrand’s？"
　　"Havewhat？"askedtheProphet。
　　"Yourtelegrams。Themessagesfromyourdoublelife。Ido。"
　　"ButIassureyou——"
　　"Mr。Vivian，it’suselessreally。IfindyouhiddenawayintheinnerroomofJellybrand’swithMr。Sagittarius，closelyguardedbyFrederickSmith；fourpennychampagne——"
　　"Fourbob——shilling，Imean。"
　　"Oh，wasit？——Uponthetable。AfterI’vebeenpoisoned，andweareleaving，Mr。Sagittariuscallsafteryousuchexpressionsas’BanksoftheMouse——hearfromme——marrow——architectsandthelastday。’Youareobviouslyagitatedbytheseexpressions。Wereachyourhouse。Ifindyouhavebeenprophesyingthroughatelescope。ThenameofMalkiel——awell—knownprophet——ismentioned。Youturnpaleandglanceatmeimploringly，asiftosolicitmysilence。Iamsilent。Thenextdayyouannouncethatyouaregoingtohavetwoafternoonparties。"
　　"No，no，notafternoon！Ineversaidafternoon！"interposedtheProphet，frantically，asthehorsefelldownagaininordertoearntheextrasixpence。
　　"Well，twopartiesintheafternoon。It’sthesamething。Yousaytheyareodd。Youyourselfacknowledgeit。Youtellmeyouhavesecrets。"
　　"DidI？"
　　"Yes。WhenIsaidIhadguessedyoursecretyoureplied，’Whichone？’"
　　"Oh！"murmuredtheProphet，tryingnottosay"comein！"tothehorse，whichwasagainknockingwithbothfeetuponthefrontofthecab。
　　"Yougohome。Icallduringtheafternoon，andfindthatyouareentertainingallyourguestsinyourownlittleroomandthatyourgrandmotherknowsnothingofitandbelievesyoutobeworking。AsIamleavingIseethebacksoftwoofyourguests。Oneisapelisse，theotheraspottedcollar。AsInearthemtheymountintoapurpleomnibusonwhichisprintedinhugeletters，/’Tothe"PorkButcher’sRest"’/——"
　　"No！No！"ejaculatedtheProphet，palewithhorroratthisrevelation。
　　"/Rest/，CramptonVale，N。Ilosethemintheshadows。ThenextdayI
　　callandfindyourgrandmotherisdyingfromthenoisemadebyboysbringingyouprivatetelegrams。Andthenyoutellme，me——MinervaPartridge——thatyouhavenodoublelife！Yes，youcanlethimgetupnow，please。"
　　Thecabmanpermittedthehorsetodosoandtheyagainstruggledfunereallyforward。TheProphetwasstillverypale。
　　"Isupposeitisuselessto——verywell，"hesaid。"Mylifeisdouble。"
　　"Ah！"
　　"Butonlylately，quitelately。"
　　"Nevermindthat。Oh！HowgladIamthatyouhavehadthecouragetoo！
　　Youwillsoongetintoit，asIdid。ButyoushouldhaveallyourtelegramsandsoforthdirectedtoJellybrand’s。"
　　"It’stoolate，"repliedtheProphet，dejectedly。"Toolate。Idowishthathorsewouldn’tfalldownsocontinually！It’smostmonotonous。"
　　"Thepoormannaturallywantstheextrasixpence。IthinkIshallgivehimashilling。ButnowwhoisMr。Sagittarius？"
　　"Whoishe？"
　　"Yes。I’veseenhimseveraltimesatJellybrand’s，andwhenIfirstmethimIthoughhewasanoutsidebroker。"
　　"You！WasitonthepieratMargate？"
　　"Certainlynot！Really，Mr。Vivian！eveninmydoublelifeI
　　occasionallydrawtheline。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon。I——thehorseconfusesme。"
　　"Well，he’sstoppedknockingnowandwillbeupinanotherminute。WhodidyousayMr。Sagittariuswas？"
　　"Ididn’tsayhewasanybody，buthe’saman。"
　　"I’dguessedthat。"
　　"Andanacquaintanceofmine。"
　　"Yes？"
　　"I’mafraidit’sgoingtorain。"
　　"ItgenerallydoesinKnightsbridge。Yes？"
　　"IsSirTiglathlikelytobein？"
　　"HeknowsI’mcoming。Well，youhaven’ttoldmewhoMr。Sagittariusis。"
　　"LadyEnid，"saidtheProphet，desperately，"IknowverylittleofMr。
　　Sagittariusbeyondthefactthathe’saman，whichI’vealreadyinformedyouof。"
　　"Isheanoutsidebroker？"
　　"No。"
　　"Thenhe’sMalkiel。Youcan’tdenyit。"
　　"Icandenyanything，"saidtheProphet，who，alreadyupsetbytheeventsoftheday，wasnowgoadedalmosttodesperation。"Icanand——
　　andmust。There’sthehorsedownagain！"
　　"Ishallhavetogivethemanoneandsixpence。AreyourgoingtokeepyourpromisetoMrs。MerilliaandSirTiglath？"
　　TothisquestiontheProphetdeterminedtogiveadirectanswer，inordertodrawLadyEnidawayfromthemoredangeroussubjects。
　　"No，"hesaid，withaspasmofpain。
　　"Iknewyouwouldn’tbeableto。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Becausewhenone’soncebeenreallyandtrulysillyit’simpossiblenottorepeattheact，absolutelyimpossible。You’llneverstopnow。
　　You’llgoonfromonethingtoanother，asIdo。"
　　"Icannotthinkthatprophecyissilly，"saidtheProphet，withsomestiffness。
　　Shelookedathimwithfrankadmiration。
　　"You’reworsethanIam！It’ssplendid！"
　　"Worse！"
　　"Why，yes。You’refoolishenoughtothinkyoursillyactssensible。I
　　wishIcouldgettothat。ThenperhapsIcouldimposeonSirTiglathmoreeasilytoo。"
　　Sheconsideredthisideaseriously，astheystartedonagain，andgraduallygotfreeofthelittlecrowdthathadbeensittingonthehorse’shead。
　　"Imustimposeuponhim，"shesaid。"Andyou’vegottohelpme。"
　　"I！"criedtheProphet，feelingterriblyunequaltoeverything。"I
　　cannotpossiblyconsent——"
　　"Yes，dearMr。Vivian，youcan。Andiftwothoroughlysillypeoplecan’timposeupononesensibleoldman，itwillbeverystrangeindeed。
　　AndnowI’mgoingtotellyouwhatIhadn’ttimetotellyouyesterday。"
　　Sheleanedforwardandtappedsharplyontherattlingglassinfrontofthecab。Thecabman，bendingdown，twistedhiswhiskerstowardsher。
　　"Don’tgotoofast。"
　　"Ican’tget’imtofalldownagyne，lydy。’E’stootired。"
　　"Idaresay。Butdon’tlethimwalkquitesofast。"
　　Shedrewback。
　　"Mr。Vivian，"shesaid——andtheProphetthoughtshehadneverlookedmoresensiblethannow，asshebeganthisrevelation——"Mr。Vivian，amongthesillypeopleIhavemetinmydeardoublelife，whodoyouthinkaretheverysilliest？"
　　"Theanti—vaccinators？"
　　"No。Besides，theysooftenhavesmall—poxandbecomequitesensible。"
　　"Theatheists？"
　　"Iusedtothinkso，butnotnow。AndmostofthoseIknewareRomanCatholicsatpresent。"
　　"Thewomenwhodon’tdesiretobeslaves？"
　　"Therearen’tany。"
　　"ThetearersofPaderewski’shair？"
　　"Isoseldommeetthem，becausetheyallliveoutinthesuburbs。"
　　"Thetight—lacers？"
　　"Theygetrednoses，poorthings，anddisappear。They’renotpermanentenoughtocountastheverysilliest。"
　　"Igiveitup。"
　　"TheSpiritualistsandtheChristianScientists。That’swhyIlovethembest，andspendmostofmydoublelifewiththem。Howyouwouldgetonwiththem！Howmuchateaseyouwouldbeintheirmidst！"
　　"Really！Butaren’ttheyinoppositecamps？"
　　"Dearthings！Theyoftenthinkso，Ibelieve。Butreallytheyaren’t。
　　HalftheChristianScientistsbeginasSpiritualists。AndagreatmanySpiritualistswereonceChristianScientists。"
　　"Whichareyou？"
　　"Both，ofcourse。"
　　"Dearme！"
　　"Asyouwillbewhenyou’vegotthoroughlyintoyourdoublelife。Well，mygreatestfriend——inmydoublelife，youunderstand——isaMrs。VaneBridgeman，aChristianScientistandSpiritualist。Sheisveryrich，andmagnificentlyidiotic。Shesupportsallfoolishcharities。Shehasalmshousesforbroken—downmediumsonSunningtonCommoninKent。Shehasendowedahospitalforsickfortune—tellers。Shegavefivehundredpoundstothehomeforindigentthought—readers，andnearlyasmuchtothe’Palmists’SeasideRetreat’atMillabyBaynearDover。Idon’tknowhowmanyChristianScienceTemplesshehasn’terected，orsubscribedliberallyto。Sheturnseverytableinherhouse。Shewon’tleaveevenonealone。Herearlybreakfastsforstar—gazersarefamous，andit’simpossibletodinewithherwithoutsittingnexttoahoroscope—caster，orbeingtakenin——todinner，ofcourse——byacrystaldivineroranose—prophet。"
　　"Anose—prophet！What’sthat？"
　　"Apersonwhotellsyourfortunebytheshapeofyournose。"
　　"Oh，Isee。"
　　"Well，youunderstandnowthatthere’snosillierpersoninLondonthandearMrs。Bridgeman？"
　　"Oh，quite。"
　　"She’sdoneagreatdealforme，morethanIcaneverrepay。"
　　"Indeed。"
　　"Yes，inintroducingmetotherealinnercirclesofidiotcy。Well，inreturn，I’vesworn——"
　　"Youtoo！"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Oh，nothing。Ibegyourpardon。Pleasegoon。"
　　Shelookedathimcuriously，andcontinued。
　　"I’vesworn——thatis，pledgedmyhonour，youknow——"
　　"Iknow！Iknow！"
　　"Tointroducehertoatleastonethoroughlysensibleperson——aman，sheprefers。"
　　"Andyou’vechosen——？"
　　"SirTiglath，becausehe’stheonlyoneIknow。Once，Iconfess，I
　　thoughtofyou。"
　　"Ofme！"
　　"Yes，butofcourseIdidn’treallyknowyouthen。"
　　Shelookedathimwithgenuineregard。TheProphetscarcelyknewwhethertofeeldelightedordistressed。
　　"Now，yousee，Mr。Vivian，ifSirTiglathfoundoutforcertainthatI
　　wasMissMinerva，hemightdiscovermydoublelife，andifhedidthat，heissosensiblethatIamsurehewouldneverspeaktomeagain，andIcouldnotfulfilmyvowtodearMrs。Bridgeman。"
　　"Iquitesee。"
　　"Normyothervowtomyself。"
　　"Whichone？"
　　"Oh，nevermind。"
　　"Iwon’t。"
　　"HeonlysaidthataboutpartridgesinJanuary，Ifind，becausehehappenedtoseeoneofmylettersinJellybrand’swindow。Hedoesn’tassociatethatletterwithme。Soitoughttobeallright，andI’vearrangedmycampaign。"
　　"ButwhatcanI——？"
　　ShesmiledathimwithsomeScottishcraft。
　　"Don’tbother。You’vegottobemyaide—de—camp，that’sall。Ah，hereweare！"
　　Foratthismomentthehorse，withagreateffortsucceededinfallingdown，forthelasttime，beforetheastronomer’sdoor。
　　CHAPTERXII
　　THEELABORATEMINDOFMISSMINERVA
　　Onbeingshown，byanelderlyhousekeeperwithaBerlinwoolfringe，intoanold—fashionedovalbook—room，LadyEnidandtheProphetdiscoveredtheastronomersittingthere/tete—a—tete/withamuffin，whichlayonachinaplatesurroundedbymanuscripts，letters，pamphlets，booksandblotting—paper。Hewasengagedintracinglinesuponanimmensesheetoffoolscapwiththeaidofarulerandapairofcompasses，andwhenheperceivedhisvisitors，hemerelyrolledhisglassyeyesatthem，shookhislargeheadasifinrebuke，andthenreturnedtohisoccupationwithoututteringaword。
　　LadyEnidwasinnowiseabashed。Shelookedmoresensibleeventhanusual，andatoncecommencedhercampaignbytheremark，——
　　"IknowyouwonderwhyIwantedtoseeyouthisafternoon，SirTiglath。
　　Well，I’lltellyouatonce。Mr。Vivianhaspersuadedmetoactashisambassador。"
　　AtthisveryunexpectedstatementtheProphetstarted，andwasabouttoutterwhatmight，perhaps，havetakentheformofacarefully—wordeddenial，whenLadyEnidmadeaviolentfaceathim，andproceeded，inacalmmanner。
　　"Hewishesyoutodosomethingforhim，andhehasconfessedtomethathedoesnotquiteliketoaskyouhimself。"
　　OnhearingthesewordstheProphet’sbrain，alreadysorelytriedbythetragicduelwhichhadtakenplacebetweenhimselfandthecouplewholivedbesidetheMouse，temporarilycollapsed。Heattemptednoprotest。
　　Hismindindeedwasnotinaconditiontoinventone。Hesimplysatdownonasmallpileofastronomicalinstrumentswhich，withsomescientificworks，anencyclopaediaandapairofcarpetslippers，occupiedthenearestchair，andwaitedinadazedmannerforwhatwouldhappennext。
　　SirTiglathcontinuedmeasuringanddrawinglineswithaverythinpen，andLadyEnidproceededfurthertodevelophercampaign。
　　"Mr。Viviantellsme，"shesaid，"thathehasaveryoldanddearfriendwhoismostanxioustomakeyouracquaintance——not，ofcourse，foranyidlesocialpurpose，butinordertoconsultyouonsomeobscurepointconnectedwithastronomythatonlyyoucanrenderclear。
　　Isn’tthisso，Mr。Vivian？"
　　TheProphetshifteduneasilyontheastronomicalinstruments，and，graspingthecarpetslipperswithonehandtosteadyhimself，inanswertoanauthoritativesignfromLadyEnid，feeblynoddedhishead。
　　"But，"LadyEnidcontinued，apparentlywarmingtoherlies，"Mr。Vivianandhisfriend，knowinghowmuchyourtimeistakenupbyastronomicalresearchandhowintenselyvaluableitistotheworldatlarge，havenothithertodaredtointrudeuponit，althoughtheyhavewishedtodosoforaverylongtime，andhaveevenmadeoneattempt——attheColleyCibberClub。"
　　TheProphetgasped。SirTiglathtookabitoutofthemuffinandreturnedtohistracingandmeasuring。
　　"Onthatoccasionyoumayremember，"LadyEnidwentonwithincreasingvivacityandassurance，"youdeclinedtospeak。ThisnaturallydampedMr。Vivian——whoisverysensitive，thoughyoumightnotthinkit"——hereshecastaglanceattheinstrumentsonwhichtheProphetsat——"andhisfriend。Somuchso，infact，thatunlessIhadundertakentoactforthemIdaresaytheywouldhaveletthematterdrop。Wouldn’tyou，Mr。
　　Vivian？"sheaddedswiftlytotheProphet。
　　"Certainly，"heanswered，likeacreatureinadream。"Certainly。"
　　"Moreespeciallyasthefriend，Mrs。VaneBridgeman"——theProphetatthispointmadeaninarticulate，butveryaudible，noisethatmighthavemeantanything，andthatdidinfactmean"MercifulHeavens！whatwillbecomeofme？"——"Mrs。VaneBridgemanisalsoofaveryretiringdispositionandwouldhatetoputsuchamanasyouaretotheslightestinconvenience。"
　　SirTiglathtookanotherbiteatthemuffin，whichseemedtobegettingtheworstofthe/tete—a—tete/，rummagedamongthemessofthingsthatloadedhistabletillhefoundagiganticbook，openedit，andbegantocomparesomemeasurementsinitwiththosehehadmadeonthefoolscappaper。Hisbrick—redfaceglistenedinthelightofthelampthatstoodbesidehim。Hismoistredlipsshone，andheseemedtotallyunawarethattherewasanyoneinthechamberendeavouringtogainhisattention。
　　"Inthesecircumstances，SirTiglath，"LadyEnidwenton，withpleasantease，andasortofhomespunself—possessionthattrumpeted，likeamilitaryband，hersensibleness，"Mr。Vivianconsultedmeastowhattodo；whethertogivethewholethingup，ortomakeanappealtoyouattheriskofdisturbingyouandtakingupalittleofyourprecioustime。Whenhehadexplainedtheaffairtome，however，Iatoncefeltcertainthatyouwouldwishtoknowofit。Didn’tI，Mr。Vivian？Didn’tIsay，onlythisafternoon，thatwemustatoncetakeafour—wheelertoSirTiglath’s？"
　　"Yes，youdid，"saidtheProphet，inamuffledvoice。
　　"ForIknewthatnoinvestigation，noserious，reverentinvestigationintoheavenly，thatisstarry，conditionscouldbeindifferenttoyou，SirTiglath。"
　　Theastronomer，whohadbeenintheactofliftingthelastmorselofthemuffintohismouth，putitdownagain，andLadyEnid，thusvehementlyencouraged，wentonmorerapidly。
　　"YouknowofMr。Vivian’sinterest，almostmorethaninterest，intheplanets。Thisinterestisshared，wasindeedpromptedbyMrs。
　　Bridgeman，awomanofseriousattainmentsandacultivatedmind。Isn’tshe，Mr。Vivian？"
　　TheProphetheardavoicereply，"Oh，yes，sheis。"Heoftenwonderedafterwardswhetheritwashisown。
　　"Itseemsthatshe，duringcertainresearches，hituponanideawithregardto——well，shallIsaywithregardtocertainstars？——whichshecommunicatedtoMr。Vivianinthehopethathewouldcarryitfurther，andinfactclearitup。Didn’tshe，Mr。Vivian？"
　　"Oh，yes，shedid，"saidavoice，towhichtheProphetagainlistenedwithstrainedattention。
　　"ItwasinconnectionwiththisideathatMr。Viviandevelopedhisenthusiasmforthetelescope——whichledhim，perhaps，alittletoofar，SirTiglath，butI’msureMrs。Merilliaandyouhavequiteforgottenthat！"
　　HereLadyEnidpaused，andtheastronomerachievedthefinalconquestofthemuffin。
　　"HeandMrs。Bridgemanhavebeen，infact，workingtogether，shebeingthebrain，asitwere，andMr。Viviantheeye。You’vebeentheeye，Mr。
　　Vivian？"
　　"I’vebeentheeye。"
　　"But，despitealltheirardourandassiduity，theyhavecometoasortofdeadlock。Inthesecircumstancestheycometoyou，makingme——asyour，mayIsayintimate，friend？——theirmouthpiece。"
　　HereLadyEnidpausedratherdefinitely，andcastaglanceofapparentlyviolentinvitationattheProphet，asifsuggestingthathemustnowamplifyandfillinherstory。Ashedidnotdoso，aheavysilencefellintheroom。SirTiglathhadreturnedtohismeasuring，andLadyEnid，forthefirsttime，begantolookslightlyembarrassed。
　　Sendinghereyesvaguelyabouttheapartment，aspeopledoonsuchoccasions，shechancedtoseeanewspaperlyingonthefloorneartoher。Shebentdowntowardsit，thenraisingherselfupshesaid，——
　　"Mrs。Bridgemansometimeagocametotheconclusionthattherewasprobablyoxygenincertainstars，andnotonlyinthefixedstars。"
　　Atthisremarktheastronomer’scountenancecompletelychanged。Heswungroundinhisrevolvingchair，waggedhishugeheadfromsidetoside，andfinallyroaredattheProphet，——
　　"Isshetellingthetruth？"
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"saidtheProphet，boundingontheinstruments。
　　"Getoffthoseprecioustools，youngman，farmorevaluablethanyourfinitecarcase！Getoffthemthismomentandanswerme——isthisyoungfemalespeakingthetruth？"
　　TheProphetgotofftheinstrumentsand，inanswertoafirm，ScottishgesturefromLadyEnid，noddedhisheadtwice。
　　"What！"continuedSirTiglath，puffingouthischeeks，"awomanbeapioneeramongtheHeavenlyBodies！"
　　TheProphetnoddedagain，asmechanicallyasapennytoy。
　　"Theoldastronomerisexercised，"bawledSirTiglath，witheverysymptomofacuteperturbation。"Heisgreatlyexercisedbythenarrativeoftheyoungfemale！"
　　Sosaying，heheavedhimselfupoutofhischairandbegantorollrapidlyupanddowntheroom，alternatelydistendinghischeeksandpermittingthemtocollapse。
　　"Ishouldtellyoualso，SirTiglath，"interposedLadyEnid，asifstruckbyasuddenidea，"thatMrs。Bridgeman’soriginaladviserandassistantinherastronomicalresearcheswasacertainMr。Sagittarius，whoisalsoanintimatefriendofMr。Vivian’s。"
　　TheProphetsatdownagainupontheinstrumentswithathud。
　　"Getoffthoseprecioustools，youngman！"roaredtheastronomerfuriously。"Wouldyouimposeyourvilebodyuponthehenchmenofthestars？"
　　TheProphetgotupagainandleanedagainstthewall。
　　"Ifeelunwell，"hesaidinalowvoice。"Exceedinglyunwell。IregretthatImustreallybegoing。"
　　LadyEniddidnotseemtoregretthisabruptindisposition。Perhapsshethoughtthatshehadalreadyaccomplishedherpurpose。Atanyrateshegotuptoo，andpreparedtotakeleave。Theastronomerwasstillingreatexcitement。
　　"WhoisthisMr。Sagittarius？"hebellowed。
　　"Amanofscience。Isn’the，Mr。Vivian？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Anastronomerofremarkableattainments，Mr。Vivian？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Oneknowsnothisabnormalname，"criedtheastronomer。
　　"Heisverymodest，veryretiring。Mrs。Bridgeman’sisreallytheonlyhouseinLondonatwhichyoucanmeethim。Isn’tthatso，Mr。Vivian？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Yousayhehasmadeinvestigationintothepossibilityoftherebeingoxygeninmanyoftheholystars？"
　　"Mr。Vivian！"
　　"Yes。"