"ForyearsshehasbeenwritingtomeatJellybrand’s，undermyrealnameofMalkieltheSecond，youunderstand。Sheaddressesmesimplyasthemaster。’"
　　"Butdothepostalauthorities——"
　　"Notupontheenvelope，sir，notupontheenvelope。"
　　"Isee。"
　　"Hitherto，truetomyself，truetotheprinciplesofMalkieltheFirst，andtotheinstinctsofMadame，Ihavedeclinedherpersonalacquaintance。ButthereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldnotintroducemetothehouseasMr。Sagittarius，noreasonatall。"
　　TheProphetknewonlytoowellthattherewasnot，butbeforehehadtimetogoontryingtowriggleoutofthecomplication，Madamestruckin。
　　"MissMinervaistobepresentatthisreception，Ibelieve，"shesaidsharply。
　　"Yes，sheis，"answeredtheProphet，illuminedbyarayofhope。
　　"Jupiter，"saidMadame，"IwillaccompanyyouandMr。ViviantotheZoologicalGardensto—night。Itismysacredduty。"
　　TheProphetgroaned。
　　"But，mydarling——"
　　"Thereceptionover，IwillassistyouandMr。VivianatthetelescopeintheBerkeleySquare。InyourpresenceIcandosowithoutdepartingfrommyprinciples，/salvopudoribus/。Donotinterruptme，Jupiter，ifyouplease。Ihavethoughtthematterout。Thecrisisinourfateisathand。Upontheeventsofthenextthreenightsdependsourfuture。
　　ThesemysteriousmessagesofwhichMr。Vivianspeaksmustbeexaminedintobyusuponthespot。ThismysteryofthedressedCrabmustbemadeclear。Awoman’sintellectisneeded。Awoman’sintellectshallnotbewanting。IllasIam，worndownbytheoccurrencesofyesterdayandbythisgentleman’sincessanttelegrams，Iwillleavemybooks"——hereshewavedonehandtowardsthedwarfbookcase——"Iwillassumeanappropriate/neglige/andmyoutdoorboots，afichuandbonnet，andwillaccompanyyouatoncetotheBerkeleySquare，theretoconferandarrangetheprogrammeoftheevening。Mrs。Bridgemanwouldfalldownbeforeusinworshipcouldsheknowwhowereallyare。Asitis，Mr。
　　Vivianwillintroduceusmodestlyastwooldandvaluedfriends。Thetimemaybeathandwhenweneednolongerhideourselvesbeneathan/alibi/。Tillthenwemustpossessourselves，andMr。Vivianmustpossessus，inpatience。IllasIam，Iwillaccompanyyou。To—nightshallseemeintheZoologicalGardensatmyhusband’sside。"
　　Beforetheprospectofthissublimeself—sacrificebothMr。SagittariusandtheProphetwereasmendumb。Theysaidnotaword。Theyonlygazed——withasortofstrangeidiotcy——atMadameassherose，withanelaborateandstudiedfeebleness，fromthemarooncouchandpreparedtogoupstairstoassumetheappropriate/neglige/。OnlywhenshewasatherfullheightdidtheProphet，rendereddesperatebytheterribleresultsofhisowningenuity，nervehimselftoutteronelastprotest。
　　"Ireallydonotthinkitwouldbequiteaccordingtotherulesofetiquettewhichprevailinthecentraldistricts，"hecried，"foraladytospendthenightinthebutler’spantryofacomparativestranger，evenwhenaccompaniedbyherhusband。Itmightgiverisetotalkinthesquare，and——"
　　"Thebutler’spantry，sir！"exclaimedMr。Sagittarius。"Explainyourself，Ibeg。"
　　"Thetelescopeisthere，and——"
　　"Ihavepassedbeyondthereachofetiquette，"saidMadame，lookingconsiderablylikeJoanofArcandotherwell—knownheroines。"Mydutyliesplainbeforeme。OfmyselfIshouldnothaveselectedtheZoologicalGardensandthebutler’spantryofacomparativestrangerasplacesinwhichtopassthenight，evenwhenaccompaniedbymyhusband。
　　Butmyconscience——/mensconsciumrecto/——guidesmeandIwillnotresistit。Iwillassumemy/neglige/andbonnetandwillbewithyouinamoment。"
　　Sosayingshemajesticallyquittedtheapartment。
　　TheProphetfelldownuponthemaroonsofalikeamansmittenwithparalysis。Hefeltsuddenlyold，andveryweak。Hetriedtothink，toconsiderhowhecouldexplainMadameSagittariustohisgrandmother——
　　forshemustsurelynowbecomeawareofthepresenceofstrangersinherprettyhome——howhecouldarrangematterswithMr。Ferdinand，howhecouldapologisetoaladywhomhehadneveryetseenforappearingatherhousewithtwouninvitedguests，howhecouldgetridoftheSagittariuseswhenthehorriblenightwatchshouldbeatanendandthefrigidwinterdawnbenear。Buthismindrefusedtowork。Hisbrainwasablank，containingnothingexcept，perhaps，avaguedesireforsuddendeath。Mr。Sagittariusdidnotdisturbhiscontemplationoftheinevitable。Indeed，thatgentlemanalsoseemedmeditative，andthesilencelasteduntilthereappearanceofMadame，inabrownrobe——ofaslightlytea—gowntype——trimmedwithgreenchiffonandcoffee—colouredlace，ablackbonnetadornedwithaboutascoreofimitationplumsmadeinsomehighly—glazedmaterial，aheavycloaklinedwithpricelessrabbit—skins，andtheoutdoorboots。
　　IftheProphethadfoundthejourneytotheMouseapainfulexperience，whatcanbesaidofhisfeelingsduringthejourneyfromthatnoblestream？LongafterwardsherecalledhisstateofmindduringthetrampacrosstheCommonamongthebrokencrockery，thedust—heaps，thedecayingvegetablesandtheoccasionallurkingrats，thejourneyinthetrain，thereembarkmentuponthepurple’busfromthegentleeminenceslopingtowardsthecoal—yard，thelongpilgrimagetowardsthecentraldistrictswithhisveryoutlyingcompanions。Herecalledthepeculiarnumbnessthatstroveagainstthedesperationofhisthoughts，hisfeebleeffortstolayplansfrustratedbyaperpetualbuzzinginhisbrain，hisflittingvisionsofthatgentlegrandmotherroundwhosevenerableageanddignityhewasabouttogroupsuchpeculiarpersonalities，andbeneathwhoseroofhewasabouttoindulgeinsuchunholypropheticpractices。Longafterwards——buteventhenhecouldnotsmileasmensooftensmilewhentheylookbackonlostdespairs！
　　Heandhiscompanionsspokebutlittletogetherastheyjourneyed。
　　OccasionallyMadameandMr。Sagittariusconversedinhuskywhispers，likebrigandstheProphetthought，andtheveiledclickofMadame’scontraltostruckthroughthestartledair。Butmostlyasilenceprevailed——asilencealivewithfate。
　　AtthecornerofAirStreettheygotoutandbegantowalkdownPiccadillytowardstheBerkeleysquare。Itwasnowevening。Thelampswerelightedandthemurmurofstrollingcrowdsfilledthegloomyair。
　　Madamestaredfeverishlyabouther，excitedbythepress，theflashinghansomsandthegaily—illuminatedshops。Once，asshepassedBenoist’s，shemurmured"/Ofestumdies/！"andagain，bytheBerkeley，whenshewasmomentarilyjostledbyaverylargeandumbrageoustrampwhohadapparentlybeencelebratingthejoysofbeggary——"/Actoprofanusvulgam/！"Butgenerallyshewassilent，enwrapped，nodoubt，inbookishthought。When，atlength，theystoodbeforethedoorofnumberonethousandshebreathedaheavysigh。
　　"Please，"saidtheProphet，inatremblingvoice，"pleaseenterquietly。Mygrandmotherisveryunwell。"
　　"Anklesseemstobeaverypainfulcomplaint，sir，"saidMr。
　　Sagittarius。"ButMadameandselfarenotinthehabitofcreatinguproarbyourmovements。"
　　"No，no。Ofcoursenot。Still——ontiptoeifyoudon’tmind。"
　　"Icannotwalkontiptoe，"saidMadame，inavoicethatsoundedtotheProphetterrificallypowerful。"Theattitudeisprecariousandundignified。AsthegreatJuvenile——"
　　"Yes，yes。Ah！that’sit！"
　　Hemanagedtogethiskeyintothedoorandverygingerlyopenedit。
　　MadameandMr。Sagittariussteppedintothehall，followedcloselybytheProphet，whowascontentonconveyingthemunobservedtothelibrary。
　　"Thisway，"hewhispered。"Thisway。Softly！Softly！"
　　Hebegantosteal，likeashadow，acrossthehall，and，impressedbyhissurreptitiousmanner，hisoldandvaluedfriendsinstinctivelyfollowedhisexample。Allthreeofthem，then，withlongstepsandtheatricalpauses，werestagilyuponthemove，whensuddenlythedoorthatledtotheservants’quartersswungopenandMrs。FancyQuingletdebouchedintotheirmidst，succeededbyMr。Ferdinand，whocarriedinhishandamenucardinasilverholder。AtthemomentoftheirappearancetheProphet，holdinghisfingertohislips，wastakingasoftandsecretstrideinthedirectionofthelibrarydoor，hisbodybentforwardandhisheadprotrudedtowardsthesanctumhelongedtogain，andMadameandMr。Sagittarius，truetotheinstinctofimitationthatdwellsinourmonkeyrace，wereinpreciselysimilarattitudesbehindhim。Thehallbeingratherdark，andthegaitofthetrioitcontainedthustragicallysurreptitious，itwasperhapsnotunnaturalthatMrs。Fancyshouldgiveventtoapiercingcryofterror，andthatMr。Ferdinandshoulddropthemenuandcrouchbackagainstthewallinahunchedpositionexpressiveofalarm。Atanyrate，suchweretheiractions，while——fortheirpart——theProphetandhistwooldandvaluedfriendsutteredaunitedexclamationandstruckthreeattitudesthatwerepregnantwithdefensiveamazement。
　　Havingutteredherself，Mrs。Fancy，accordingtoherinvariablecustomwhencompletelyterrified，displayedallthesemblanceofclear—sightedcomposureandexplanatorydiscrimination。WhileMr。Ferdinandremainedbythewall，withhisfacetoitandhislargewhitehandsspreadoutuponhisshuteyes，thelady’smaidadvanceduponMadame，and，addressingherselfapparentlytosomehiddenuniverseinneedofinformation，remarkedinratherapiecingvoice，——
　　"Isayagain，asIsaidafore，thehousehasbeenbrokeintoandtherobbersareuponus。Ican’tspeakdifferentnormeanother。"
　　OnhearingthesewordsMadame’slargeandripplingcountenancebecamesuffusedwithindignantscarlet，andapreliminaryclickrangthroughthehall。TheProphetboundedforward。
　　"Hush，Fancy，"hecried。"Whatareyousaying？"
　　"WhatImean，MasterHennessey。Thehousehasbeenbroke——"
　　"Hush！Hush！Thisladyandgentlemanare——"
　　"Twooldandvaluedfriends——"boomedMadame。
　　"Twooldandvaluedfriendsofmine。Mr。Ferdinand！Mr。Ferdinand，takeyourfacefromthewall，ifyouplease。Thereisnocauseforalarm。
　　Now，Fancy——now！"
　　ForMrs。Fancyhad，asusual，brokenintotearsonlearningthereassuringtruth，andwasnowdisplayingeverysymptomofdistressandenervation。TheProphet，unabletocalmher，wasobligedtoassistherupstairsandplaceheruponthelanding，wherehehurriedlyleftherutteringbrokenmoansandmurmurs，andrepeatingagainandagainherstatementofaffairsandassertionofinabilitytoconcealtherevealedobvious。OnhisreturnhefoundMadame，Mr。SagittariusandMr。
　　Ferdinandgroupedstatuesquelyinthehallasiftorepresent"Perturbation。"
　　"Mr。Ferdinand，"hesaidratherseverely，"Ididnotexpectthisconductofyou，shrinkingfromguestsinthisextraordinarymanner。A
　　butlerwhoshowsterroratthesightofvisitorsdoesnotconducetothepopularityofhisemployers。"
　　"Ibegpardon，sir。Iwasnotprepared。"
　　"Pleasebepreparedanothertime。Youwillservedinnerforthreeto—night，veryquietly，intheinnerdining—room。IdonotwishMrs。
　　Merilliatobedisturbedinherillness，and——"
　　"Ifyouplease，sir，Mrs。Merilliafeelsherselfsomuchbetterthatsheiscomingdowntodinnerto—night。"
　　"Comingdowntodinner！"saidtheProphet，aghast。
　　"Yes，sir。AndshehasaskedinSirTiglathButtandtheLadyJuliaPostlethwaitetojoinher。IwasabouttoshowMrs。Merilliathemenu，sir，when——"
　　"GoodHeavens！MercifulPowers！"ejaculatedtheProphet。
　　"Sir？"
　　"Whatonearthistobedone？"continuedtheProphet，lostforthemomenttoallsenseofpropriety。
　　Mr。Ferdinandlookedattheoldandvaluedfriends。
　　"Ican’tsay，sir，I’msure，"hereplied，pursinguphislips。
　　"Whatisthemeaning——"beganMr。Sagittarius。
　　"I’mnotawarethat——"startedMadame。
　　TheProphetdartedtothelibrarydoorandopenedit。
　　"Pray，praycomeinhere，"hehissed。"Mygrandmother！Softly！"
　　"Buttheoldla——"
　　"Hush，please！"
　　"Imustremark，Mr。Viv——"
　　"Tsh！Tsh！Mr。Ferdinand，waitinthehall。Ishallwanttospeaktoyouinamoment。"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　TheProphetclosedthedoorandturnedtothisindignantvisitors。
　　"Thisisterrible，"hesaid。"Terrible！"
　　"Praywhy？"criedMadame。
　　"Why，"criedtheProphet，"why？"
　　Hesoughtfranticallyforsomeexcuse。Suddenlyabrightideaoccurredtohim。
　　"Why，"hesaid，impressively。"BecauseSirTiglathButt，thegentlemanwhoiscomingtodinner，isthepersonwhoforfive—and—fortyyearshasbeenseekingMr。Sagittariuswiththefirmintentionofassaulting，perhapsofkilling，him。"
　　Mr。Sagittariusturneddeathlypale，andmadeamovementasiftogetoutofthenearestwindow。
　　"Thisisatrap！"hestammered。"Thisisarat—trap。Thiswasplanned。"
　　"Really"——begantheProphet。
　　ButMr。Sagittariusdidnotheedtheexclamation。Trembligveryviolently，hecontinued，——
　　"Sophy，mydarling，youareindanger。Letusfly！"
　　And，clutchinghiswifebythearm，totheProphet’sunspeakabledelightheendeavouredtolead，orrathertodraghertothedoor。ButMadamenowshowedthemetalshewasmadeof。
　　"Jupiter，"sheexclaimed，inherdeepestnote，"ifyouareaProphetyoucansurelyatmomentsbealsoaman。Whereisyour/togavirilibus/？"
　　"Idon’tknow，mylove，I’msure。Don’tletusloseamoment。Come，myangel！"
　　"Ishallnotcome，"retortedMadame，whoseleapingambitionhadbeenfiredbythesoundoftitlednames。"ThegentlemanbelievesyoutobeanAmericansyndicate。"
　　"Iknow，myblessing，Iknow。But——"
　　"Verywell。Ifyoudon’tbehavelikeonehewillneversuspectyou。"
　　TheProphetsawhischanceslippingfromhimandhastenedtointerpose。
　　"Hemightdivinethetruth，"hesaid。"Onecannever——"
　　ButatthismomenthewasinterruptedbyMr。Ferdinandwhoabruptlyopenedthedoorandobserved，——
　　"Ifyouplease，sir，Mrs。Merilliahassentdownordersthatthepolicearetobefetchedatonce。"
　　Mr。Sagittarius，nowthoroughlyunnerved，turnedfromwhitetogrey。
　　"Thepolice！"hevociferated。"Sophy，myangel，letusfly。Thisisnoplaceforyou！"
　　"Thepolice！"criedtheProphet。"Why？"
　　"Ibelieveit’sMrs。Fancy’sdoing，sir。IfyouwouldgotoMrs。
　　Merillia，sir，Ithink——"
　　TheProphetrushedfromtheroomandhastenedupstairsfourstepsatatime。Hefoundhisbelovedgrandmotherinastateofgraveagitation，andMrs。Fancy，infloodsoftears，reiteratingherstatementthattherewererobbersinthehouse。
　　"Oh，Hennessey！"criedMrs。Merillia，onhisentrance，"thankGodthatyouarecome。Thereareburglarsinthehouse。Fancyhasjustencounteredtheminthehall。Goforthepolice，mydearestboy。Don’tloseamoment。"
　　"Mydeargrannie，they’renotburglars。"
　　"Ican’tspeakdifferent，MasterHennessey，nor——"
　　"Thenwhoarethey，Hennessey？Fancydeclares——"
　　"Theyaretwo——two——well，twooldandvaluedfriendsofmine。"
　　"Oldandvaluedfriendsofours！"
　　"Ofmine，grannie。Fancy，praydon’tmakesuchanoise！"
　　"Fancy，"saidMrs。Merillia，"youcangotoyourroomandliedown。"
　　"Yes，ma’am。Isayagain，asIsaidafore，thehousehasbeenbrokeintoandtherobbers——"
　　AtthispointtheProphetshutthedooronthefaithfulandpersistentcreature，whoforthwithcarriedherdeterminationandsobstoanupperstorey。
　　"Hennessey，whatisallthis？Whoisreallyhere？"
　　"Grannie，dear，onlytwofriendsofmine，"repliedtheProphet，tryingtolookatease，andfeelinglikeacriminal。
　　"Friendsofyours？ButsurelythenIknowthem。IthoughtIknewallyourfriends。"
　　"Soyoudo，grannie，allexcept——exceptjustthese。"
　　"Andtheyareoldandvalued，yousay？"
　　"No，no——thatis，Imeanyes。"
　　Mrs。Merilliawastoodignifiedtoaskanyfurtherquestions。Shelaybackonhersofa，andlookedathergrandsonwithashiningofmildreproachinhergreeneyes。
　　"Well，mydear，"shesaid，"gobacktoyourfriends，butdon’tforgetthatLadyJuliaandSirTiglatharedininghereathalf—pastseven。"
　　"Grannie，"criedtheProphet，withadesperatefeelingthatMadamemeanttostay，"yououghtnottodinedownstairsto—night。Letmesendandputthemoff。"
　　"No，Hennessey，"sheanswered，withgentledecision。"Ifeelbetter，andIwantcheeringup。Mymorningwasnotaltogetherpleasant。"
　　TheProphetunderstoodthatshewasalludingtohisquestions，andfeltcuttotheheart。Hishomeseemedcrumblingabouthim，butheknewnotwhattodoorwhattosay。Mrs。Merilliaobservedhisagitation，butshedidnotchoosetoremarkuponit，forsheconsideredcuriositythemostvulgarofallthevices。
　　"Gotoyourfriends，dear，"shesaidagain。"Butbeintimefordinner。"
　　"Yes，grannie。"
　　TheProphetdescendedthestairsandmetMr。Ferdinandatthebottom。
　　"AmItosendforthepolice，sir？"
　　"No，no。I’veexplainedmatters。"
　　"Andaboutdinner，sir？"
　　"I’lltellyouinamoment，Mr。Ferdinand，"repliedtheProphet，enteringthelibrarywiththefixedintentionofgettingMadameandMr。
　　Sagittariusoutofthehousewithoutfurtherdelay。
　　Thetableauthatmethiseyes，however，wasnotreassuring。HefoundMadame，havinglaidasideherbonnet，andthrowntherabbit—skincloakcarelesslyuponasettee，arrangingherhairbeforeamirror，andshakingupthecoffee—colouredlacefichuinamannerthatsuggestedapermanentoccupationofthehouse，whileherhusband，sunkinadeeparmchairinanattitudeofcompletenervousprostration，wasgazingdejectedlyintothefire。WhentheProphetentered，thelatterboundedwithalarm，whileMadameturnedround，acoupleofhairpinsinhermouthandbothhandstothebackofherhead。
　　"Ah，"sheremarked，throughthepins，"/ilavous/！IamhappytosaythatIhaveinducedMr。Sagittariustoassumehis/togavirilibus/，andthatwehave，therefore，greatpleasureinyieldingtoyourthoughtfulpressure——"
　　"Mywhat？"saidtheProphet，blankly。
　　"Youthoughtfulpressure，andacceptingyoururgentinvitetodineherebeforeproceedingtotheZoologicalGardensandthencetothebutler’spantry。"
　　TheProphettriednottogroanwhilesheemittedapinandsecuredwithitawanderingplaitofravenhair。
　　"You’resure，sir，"saidMr。Sagittarius，inadeplorablevoice，"thatthegentlemanisconvincedthatIamreallyanAmericansyndicate？"
　　TheProphetrangthebell。Hecouldnottrusthimselftospeak，and，whenhelookedatMadame’slargeanddeterminedeyes，heknewthattodosowouldbeuseless。
　　Mr。Ferdinandappeared。
　　"Mr。Ferdinand，"saidtheProphet，"thisladyandgentlemanwilljoinusatdinnerto—night。"
　　"Yes，sir，"saidMr。Ferdinand，castingaglanceofoutragedpruderyuponMr。Sagittarius，whowasattiredinhisusualmorningcostume，includingspats。
　　"What’sthematter，Mr。Ferdinand？"askedtheProphet，followingthatfunctionary’seyes。"Ha！He’snotdressed！"
　　"No，sir！"
　　"Mr。Sagittarius，"criedtheProphet，"you’renotdressed！"
　　"Sir，"criedthatgentleman，"doyoudaretoaccusemeofimproprietyinafrockcoat？"
　　"No，no。Butfordinner。Youcan’tpossiblydinelikethat！"
　　"Ihavedinedlikethis，sir，forthelasttwentyyears。Thearchitectsandtheirwives——"
　　"Idaresay。Butunluckilytherewillbenoarchitectsandtheirwivesatdinnerto—night。Pleasestandup。"
　　"Sir？"
　　"Kindlystandup。Mr。Ferdinand！"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Placeyourbackagainstthisgentleman’sifyouplease——touching，touching！Don’twriggleawaylikethat。KeepyourheelstothegroundwhileIfetchasheetofnotepaper。Don’tmoveyourheadseitherofyou。Ithoughtso。You’reprettymuchthesameheight。Mr。Ferdinand，youwilllayoutawhiteshirtandoneofyourblackdresssuitsinmydressing—roomatonce。Madame，Iregretthatwemustleaveyouforafewmoments。Willyouresthere？Allowmetoplaceacushionforyourhead。AndhereisJuvenalintheoriginal。"
　　Sosaying，theProphethurriedMr。Sagittariusfromtheroom，drivingMr。Ferdinand，inaconditionofelephantinehorror，beforehim，andabandoningMadametoanacquaintancewiththeclassicsthatshehadcertainlyneverachievedinthesocietyoftherenownedDr。Carter。
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　MALKIELTHESECONDISMISTAKENFORARATCATCHER
　　"Ifyoutremblelikethat，ofcourseitmustlooktoobig！"exclaimedtheProphettoMr。Sagittarius，aquarterofanhourlater。"Drawitinattheback。"
　　Mr。Sagittarius，withshakinghands，drewinthewaistcoatofMr。
　　Ferdinand，whichhunginfoldsaroundhisthinandagitatedfigure。
　　"That’sbetter，"saidtheProphet。"Theywon’tnoticeanythingodd。Butyou’veturnedupyour——Mr。Ferdinand’strousers！"
　　"They’retoolong，sir。Youbracedthemtoolowfor——"
　　"Ibracedthemlowonpurpose，"criedtheProphetingreatexcitement，"tocoverthespats，sinceyoucan’tgetonMr。Ferdinand’sboots。
　　Kindlyturnthemdown。"
　　"Astothespats，sir，thearchitectsandtheirwives——"
　　"Mr。Sagittarius，"exclaimedtheProphet，"Ithinkitrighttoinformyouthatifyoumentionthearchitectsandtheirwivesagain，Imayveryprobablygomad。Idon’tsayIshall，butIwillnotanswerformyself。Havethegoodnesstoturnthemdownandfollowme。"
　　Mr。Sagittariusobeyed，andfollowedtheProphetfromtheroomwithawaddlinggaitandaterriblesensationofhavingnothingon。ThecoatandtrouserswhichheworeflappedabouthimashedescendedthestairsinthewakeoftheProphet，glancingnervouslyabouthimandstartingattheslightestsound。InthelibrarytheyfoundMadame，holdingthegreatJuvenileupsidedownandlookingexceedinglycross。
　　"Willyoubegoodenoughtocomeupstairs？"saidtheProphettoherverypolitely，thoughhisfingerstwitchedtostrangleher。"Iwishtopresentyoutomygrandmother，anddinnerisjustready。"
　　Madamerosewithdignity。
　　"Iamreadytoo，"shesaid，withaclick。"/Semperparatis/。"
　　And，shakingupthefichu，sheascendedthestairs。Outsidethedrawing—roomdoortheProphet，whoseemedstrangelycalm，butwhowasinrealityalmostburstingwithnervousexcitement，pausedandfacedhisoldandvaluedfriends。
　　"Youwillforgivemysayingso，Ihope，"hewhispered，"butmygrandmotherisnotwellandmuchconversationtiresher。Sowedon’ttalktoomuchinherpresence。Onlyjustnowandthen，youunderstand。"
　　Andwiththislastinjunction——futile，heknewashegaveit——hecommendedhimselftowhateverpowerstherebeandopenedthedoor。
　　SirTiglathhadnotyetarrived，butLadyJuliaPostlethwaitewasseatedonasofabyMrs。Merillia，andwasconversingwithherabouttheCourt，thedreadfulamountofmoneyacertainduke——herthirdcousin——hadrecentlyhadtopayinDeathDuties，thecorruptconditionofsociety，andtheabsurdpretensionsofthelowermiddleclasses。
　　LadyJuliawassensitiveandavery/grandedame/。Sheworeherhairpowdered，andhadaslightcoughandexquisitemanners。Oncealadyinwaiting，shewasnowawidow，possessedasetofapartmentsinHamptonCourtPalace，worshippedQueenAlexandra，andhadscarcelyeverspokentoanybodywhomovedoutsideofCourtCircles。TheDukeofWellingtonwassaidtohaveembracedherwhenachild。