"Iamringing，"saidMrs。Merillia，inamuffledmannerthroughthedoor。"Iamsummoningassistance！Youwillbecapturedifyoudon’tgoaway。"
　　Andagainshepealedherbells。Thistime，asshedidso，thetinglingofathirdbellbecameaudibleinthesilenthouse。
　　"Lord！"criedGustavus，"ifthereisn’tthehalldoor。Itmustbemaster。Helefthiskeyto—night。Here’sanicego！"
　　Thethreebellsraisedtheirpiercingchorus。Mrs。Fancysobbed，andGustavus，afteraterriblemomentofhesitation，boundeddownthehall。
　　Hisinstincthadnotplayedhimfalse。ThepersonwhohadrungthebellwasindeedtheProphet，whohadbaselyslunkawayfromZoologicalHouse，leavingMadamesurroundedbyhernewandadoringfriends。
　　"Thankyou，Gustavus，"hesaid，entering。"Takemycoat，please。What’sthat？"
　　ForMrs。Merillia’sbellsstruckshrillyuponhisastonishedears。
　　"Ithinkit’sMrs。Merillia，sir。Shekeepsonringing。"
　　"Mrs。Merillia。Atthishour！Heavens！Issheill？"
　　"Idon’tknow，sir。Shekeepsringing；butwhenIansweritshesays，’Goaway！’shesays。’Go——’shesays，sir。"
　　"Howverystrange！"
　　AndtheProphetboundedupstairsandarrivedathisgrandmother’sdoorjustintimetohearhercryout，inreplytopoorMrs。Fancy’sdistractedknocking，——
　　"Ifyoutrytobreakinyouwillbeputinprisonatonce。Ihearassistancecoming。Ihearthepolice。Goaway，youwicked，wickedman！"
　　"Grannie！"criedtheProphetthroughthekeyhole。"Grannie，letmein！
　　Grannie！Grannie！Don’tring！Grannie！Grannie！"
　　ButMrs。Merilliawasnowcompletelyoutofherself，andheronlyresponsetohergrandson’sappealwastoplacehertremblingfingersuponthetwobells，andtoreply，throughtheiruproar，——
　　"Itisuselessforyoutosaythat。Iknowwhoyouare。Isawyou。I
　　shallgoonringingaslongasIcanstand。Ishalldieringing，butI
　　shallneverletyouin。Goaway！Goaway！"
　　"Whatdoesshemean？"criedtheProphet，turningtoGustavus。
　　"Idon’tknowindeed，sir，"repliedthefootman，thinkingofMr。
　　Carter’slibrary。"Icouldn’tsayindeed，sir。"
　　"Oh，mypoormissis！"wailedMrs。Fancy，tremblinginhernight—socks。
　　"Oh，mypoordearmissis！Ican’tspeakdifferentnormeanother。Oh，missis，missis！"
　　"Hush，Fancy！"saidtheProphet，inthegreatestdistraction。"Grannie！
　　Grannie！"
　　Andseizingthehandleofthedoorheshookitviolently。Mrs。Merilliawasnowverynaturallyundertheimpressionthattheratcatcherwasdeterminedtobreakinandmurderherwithoutmoreado。Extremedangeroftenseemstoexerciseastrangelycalminginfluenceuponthehumansoul。Soitwasnow。UponhearingherbedroomdoorquiveringundertheassaultoftheProphet，Mrs。Merilliawasabruptlyinvadedbyasortofdesperatecourage。Sheleftthebells，totteredtothegrateinwhichagoodfirewasblazing，seizedthepokerandthrustitbetweenthebarsandintotheheartoftheflames，atthesametimecryingoutinaquaveringbutdeterminedvoice，——
　　"Iamheatingthepoker！Ifyoucomeinyouwillrepentit。Iamheatingthepoker！"
　　Onhearingthisremark，theProphetdesistedfromhisassaultuponthedoor，overcomebytheabsoluteconvictionthathisbelovedgrandmotherwassufferingfromapronouncedformofhomicidalmania。Hisaffectionpromptedhimtokeepsuchacatastrophesecretaslongaspossible，andhethereforeturnedtoMrs。FancyandGustavus，andsaidhurriedly，——
　　"Thisisamatterformealone。Mrs。Fancy，pleasegoawayatonce。
　　Gustavus，youwillaccompanyMrs。Fancy。"
　　Hismannerwassofirm，hisfacesoironinitsdetermination，thatMrs。FancyandGustavusdarednotprofferaword。Theyturnedawayanddisappearedsoftlydownthestairs，towaitthe/denouement/ofthistragedyinthehallbelow。Meantimethepokerwasgrowingredhotinthecoals，andMrs。Merilliaannouncedtothesupposedratcatcher，——
　　"Icanhearyou——Ihearyoubreathing——"（theProphetendeavourednottobreathe）。"Ihearyourustling，butyoucan’ttouchme。Thepokerisredhot。"
　　Andshedrewitsmokingfromthegrateandapproachedthedoor，holdingitinherdelicatehandlikeaweapon。
　　"Grannie！"saidtheProphet，makinghisvoiceasmuchlikeitgenerallywasashepossiblycould。"Dearestgrannie！"
　　"Idareyoutocomein！"repliedMrs。Merillia，inanalmostformidablemanner。"Idareyoutodoit。"
　　"Iamnotcomingin，grannie，"saidtheProphet。
　　"Thengoaway！"saidMrs。Merillia。"Goaway——andletmehearyougoing。"
　　AsuddenideastrucktheProphet。Hedidnotsayanotherword，butimmediatelywalkeddownstairs，trampingheavilyandshakingthewoodbalustersviolentlyateverystephetook。Hisrusesucceeded。Hearingtheintruderdepart，Mrs。Merillia’scuriouscouragedesertedher，shedroppedthepokerintothegrate，andoncemoresetbothbellsgoingwithallhermightandmain。TheProphetletherringfornearlyfiveminutes，thenheboundedoncemoreupstairsandtappedverygentlyonthedoor。
　　"Grannie，"hecried，"areyouringing？Whatisit？"
　　ThistimeMrs。Merilliarecognisedhisvoice，totteredtothedoor，unlockedit，andfell，trembling，intohisanxiousarms。
　　"Oh，Hennessey！"shegasped。"Oh——Hennessey！"
　　"Grannie，whatisit？Whatonearthisthematter？"
　　"Theratcatcher！Theratcatcher！"
　　"Theratcatcher！"criedtheProphet。
　　"Hehascomeback。Heishere。Hehasbeentryingtobreakintomyroom。"
　　"Whatratcatcher？"
　　"Theonethatdinedto—night——theoneyoucalledyouroldand——andvalued——friend。"
　　"Mr。Sagittarius？"exclaimedtheProphet。
　　"Heishere。"
　　"Here！"
　　"Ihaveseenhim。Hehastriedtomurderme。"
　　"Iwilllookintothisatonce，"saidtheProphet。
　　Herantotheheadofthestairsandcalledout，——
　　"Gustavus！"
　　"Sir！"
　　"Comeuphereatonce，"
　　Gustavuscame，followedcloselybyMrs。Fancy，whowasinastateofabjectconfusionandalarm。
　　"HasMr。Sagittariusreturnedhere——thegentlemanwhodinedto—night？"
　　askedtheProphet。
　　Gustavushesitated，thoughtofDr。Carter’slibrary，andreplied，——
　　"No，sir，"
　　"Hasanybodyenteredthehouse？"
　　"No，sir。"
　　"Youhavebeenupthewholeevening？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Andnobodyhasbeen？"
　　"Nobody，sir。"
　　"Grannie，youhearwhatGustavussays。"
　　"But，Hennessey，heishere；Isawhim。"
　　"Where？"
　　"Bythedoor。Iheardsomeone，andIthoughtitwasyou。Icametothedooraftercallingyou，andtherehestood，alldirtyandwet，withahugehatonhishead"（thesaturninelittleclergymanwaslargelyblessedwithbrain），"andamostawfulmurderousexpressiononhisface。"
　　TheProphetbegantosuspectthathisdearrelative，upsetbythetragiceventsofthedinnertable，hadgonetosleepandhadthenightmare。
　　"Grannie，itmusthavebeenadream。"
　　"No，Hennessey，no。"
　　"Itmustindeed。IleftMr。SagittariusatZoologicalHouse。Ifeelcertainofthat。"
　　TheProphetspokethehonesttruth。HefullybelievedthatMr。
　　Sagittariuswasatthatverymomentsharinginthetriumphofhiswifeandreceivingtheworshipofthosewholivethesillylife。
　　"ButIsawhim，Hennessey，"saidMrs。Merillia，addingratherunnecessarily，"withmyowneyes。"
　　"Grannie，darling，youmusthavebeendreaming。Atanyrate，I’mherenow。Nothingcanhurtyou。Gotobed。Fancywillstaywithyou，andI
　　sweartoyouthatnoharmwillhappentoyousolongasIambreathing。"
　　WiththesenoblewordstheProphetkissedhisgrandmothertenderly，assistedMrs。Fancyintotheroom，andwalkeddownstairsquitedeterminedthat，comewhatmight，whetherhebrokeathousandoathsornot，hewouldputanendforthwithtothetyrannyofthecouplefromtheMouseandabandonforevertheshockingpursuitofprophecy。
　　CHAPTERXX
　　THEPROPHETRETIRESFROMBUSINESS
　　ExactlyastheProphetarrivedathisresolutionthehalldoorbellrangviolently，andGustavus，whohadslippeddownbeforetheProphetinordertoseekthetravellertoJavaintheservants’quarters，hurriedintothehallinratheradistractedmanner。
　　"Stop，Gustavus！"saidtheProphet。
　　Gustavusstopped。Thebellrangagain。
　　"Gustavus，"saidtheProphet，"ifthatisavisitorIamnotathome。
　　Mrs。Merilliaisnotathomeeither。"
　　Itwasbythistimebetweenoneandtwointhemorning。
　　"Notathome，sir。Yes，sir。"
　　TheProphetconcealedhimselfnearthehat—rack，andGustavuswentsoftlytothedoorandopenedit。
　　"Notathome，ma’am，"theProphetheardhimsay，formally。
　　"Whatd’youmean，youngman？"repliedthepowerfulvoiceofMadame。
　　"Whereismyhusband？"
　　"Ma’am？"
　　"Where，Isay，ismyhusband？"
　　"Icouldn’tsay，I’msure，ma’am。ButMrs。MerilliaandMr。Vivianarenotathome。"
　　"ThenallIcansayistheyoughttobeinatthistimeofnight。
　　Permitmetopass。AreyouawarethatMr。Vivianhasinvitedmetospendthenighthere？/Noctesambrosianes/。"
　　"But，ma’am，Mr。Viv——"
　　"That’lldo。IfIhaveanymoreofyourimpertinenceI’llmakeyourepentofit。YouareevidentlynotawarewhoIam。"
　　TheProphet，bythehat—rack，didnotfailtohearanewnoteinthedeepcontraltoofMadame，anoteoftriumph，atrumpetnoteofprofoundconceit。Hisheartsankbeforethisdeterminedmusic，anditsankevenlowertowardshispumpswhen，amomentlater，hefoundhimselfconfrontedbythelady，wrappedcloselyintherabbit—skins，andabsolutelybulgingwithvanityandself—appreciation。
　　"What！Mr。Vivian！"beganthelady。
　　"Hush！saidtheProphet，"formercy’ssake——hush！"
　　And，actingupontheimpulseofthemoment，hesuddenlyseizedMadamebythehand，andhurriedherthroughtheswingingdoorintotheservants’hall。
　　"Here’sago，"murmuredGustavusinthegreatesttrepidation。"Iftheydon’tfindthethinpartyI’majosser。"
　　MeanwhiletheProphetandMadamewerestandingfacetofacebeforethewhat—notofGustavus。
　　"Mygrandmotherisawake——thatisasleep，"saidtheProphet。"Wemustnotwakeheronanyaccount。"
　　"Oh，"returnedMadame，withatossofherhead，"yourgrandmotherseemstobeaveryfidgetyoldlady，I’msure——althoughyoudotellaparcelofliesabouther。"
　　"Lies！"saidtheProphet，withsomedignity。
　　"Yes——lies。Shedon’twearlongclothes——"
　　"Ibegyourpardon！"
　　"Shedonot。Shedon’twearherhairdown。Shedon’tputherlipstothebottle。Shedon’t。WhereisMr。Sagi——whereisMalkieltheSecond？"
　　"Ihavenoidea。Andnow，Madame，IregretthatImustconductyoutoyourcarriage。Thehourislate，mygrandmotherisseriouslyindisposed，andImyselfneedrest。"
　　"Well，then，youcan’thaveit，"retortedtheladywithauthoritativespitefulness。"Youcan’thaveit，nottillthreeo’clock。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon！"saidtheProphet，withtremblinglips。
　　"Whatfor？"
　　"IreallyregretthatImustretire。Allowme——"
　　"I’llnotallowyou。Whereismyhusband？He’snotattheZoologicalGardens。"
　　"Hehasprobablyreturnedhome。"
　　"TotheMouse！Thenhe’sacowardandanoath—breaker，andifSirTiglathwastocatchhimIshouldn’tbesorry。Kindlyleadmeatoncetothetelescope。Iwilltakehisplace。NooneshallsaythatMadameMalkieleverflinchedatduty’scall。/Praestoetpersistibus/。Conductmeatoncetothetelescope。"
　　"Thetelescope！"criedtheProphet。"Whatfor？"
　　"Lawks！"criedMadame，withpronouncedtemper。"DidwenotjourneyfromtheMousea—purposetogopracticallyintothemysteryofthedressedCrab？"
　　"Ireally——Ireallycannotconsentwithoutachaperon，"begantheProphet。
　　"ThewifeofMalkieltheSecondneedsnochaperone，"retortedMadame。
　　"Thisnighthasalteredmycondition——Istandfromhenceforthfarbeyondthereachofetiquette。Theworldknowsmenowandwillnotdaretocarp。/Carpedies/。"
　　Duringtheforegoingcolloquyhervoicehadbecomelouderandlouder，andtheProphet，dreadingunspeakablylesthisgrandmothershouldbedisturbedandaffrightedoncemore，gaveupthestruggle，and，withoutmoreado，conductedMadameintothebutler’spantryinwhichthetelescopestillremained。
　　MeanwhilewhathadbecomeofMalkieltheSecond？
　　WhenMrs。Merilliasuddenlyappearedbeforehiminhernight—bonnetandaccusedhimofbeingaratcatcherhehadverynaturallyfled，hisfirstimpulsebeingtoleavethehouseatonceandcontinuehisjourneytothedocks。Butevenaprophetisbutmortal。Malkielhadpassedthroughaneventfuldayfollowedbyastillmoreeventfulevening。Hismindwascompletelyexhausted。Evenso，however，hemighthavecontinueduponhisjourneytowardsJavahadnothislegsprosaicallyshownsignsofgivingwayunderhimjustasheoncemoregainedthehall。Thisdecidedhim。Hemusthavesomeshortreposeatwhatevercost。Hethereforepushedfeeblyatthenearestdoor，andfoundhimselfpromptlyintheapartmentoftheupperservants。Staggeringtothewhat—notofGustavus，hesankdownuponitandfellintoamelancholyreverie，fromwhichhewasrousedbytheconstanttinglingcryofMrs。Merillia’ssecondbell，whichrangclosetowherehewasreposing。Hetriedtostartup，butfailed，anditwasonlywhenthehalldoorbell，attackedbytheProphet，addeditsvoicetoitscompanion’sthathisterrorlenthimsufficientstrengthtofleeveryslowlyintotheinnerfastnessesofthisunknownregion。Therewasalightintheservant’shall，butdarknesslaybeyondandMalkielknewnotwhitherhewaspenetrating。Hebarkedhisshins，butcouldnottellagainstwhathardsubstance。Hebruisedhiselbow，butcouldnotknowwhatpieceoffurniturehadassailedit。Oncomingincontactwithadresserhesawafewsparks，buttheyspeedilydiedout，andhewasobligedtofeelhiswayonward，tillpresentlyhecameacrossalargeleatherchairinwhichMrs。
　　Merillia’scookwaswonttositwhiledirectinghersubordinatesatthebastingmachine。Intothishesankpalpitating，andforamomentremainedundisturbed。Then，tohishorror，heheardintheadjoiningroomthestridentvoiceofhislovedandhonouredwifeapparentlycarryingonadecidedlyvivaciousargumentwithsomepersonunknown。Heboundedup。PossiblyshewasaccompaniedbySirTiglath，whomustnowbeawareofhisidentity。Inanycase，herwrathathisscarcelychivalrousdesertionofherinthehouseofastrangerwould，heknew，beterrible。Hedarednotfaceit。Hedarednotallowhisprojectofflightatdawntobeinterferedwith，asitcertainlywouldbeifhecameacrossMadame。Hethereforeproceededtofleeoncemore。NordidhepauseuntilhehadgainedMr。Ferdinand’spantry，wherestoodthetelescope。Now，inthispantrytherewasalargecupboardinwhichwerekepttheverynumerousandmagnificentpiecesofplate，etc。，possessedbyMrs。Merillia；tallsilvercandelabra，standardlampsofpolishedbronze，richly—chasedcups，giganticvasesforcontainingflowers，orientalincenseholdersuponstandsofebony，Spanishcharcoaldishesofburnishedbrass，andothertreasuresfartoonumeroustomention。
　　Thiscupboardwasalwayscarefullylockedatnight，butonthisoccasionMr。Ferdinand，totallydisorganisedbythefrightfulsceneswhichhadtakenplaceathisdinnertableduringtheevening，hadretiredtobedinaconditionofcollapse，leavingitopen。MalkieltheSecond，feelingfranticallyaboutinthedark，cameuponthedoorofthiscupboard，pulledit，foundthatityieldedtohishand，and，hearingtherapidlyapproachingvoicesofMadameandtheProphet，stumbledintothecupboardandsankdownonalargegoldloving—cup，withonefootinasilversouptureen，andtheotherinapricelesssugarbasin，justasthelightofthecandlebornebytheProphetglimmeredinthedarknessoftheadjacentcorridor。
　　"Thisway，Madame，"saidtheProphet。"ButIreallythinksuchaproceedingiscalculatedtocauseagravescandalinthesquare。"
　　MalkieltheSeconddrewthecupboarddoorto，andgraspedasilvercandelabrumineachhandtosustainhimselfupontherathersharprimoftheloving—cup。
　　"WhatisthesquaretomeorItothesquare？"returnedMadamewithungrammaticalmajesty。"MadameMalkielisnotgovernedbyanyordinarylaws。/Lexesnonscripta/ishermotto。Tothesealonesheclings。"
　　Herhusbandclungtothecandelabraandburstintoaviolentperspiration。Throughthekeyholeofthecupboardarayoflightnowshone，andheheardthefrou—frouofhispartner’sskirt，theflumpoftherabbit—skinsasshecastthemfromherampleshouldersuponthefloor。TheProphet’svoicebecameaudibleagain。
　　"Whatdoyouwishmetodo？"hesaid，withasortofembitteredcourtesy。
　　"Throwopenthewindow，placeyourselfbeforethetelescope，andproceedatoncetoyourinvestigations，"repliedthelady。
　　"Iamnotinaconditiontoinvestigate，"saidtheProphet。"Iamnotindeed。Ifyouwillonlyletmegetyouacab，to—morrownight——"
　　’Itisuselesstotalk，Mr。Vivian，"saidMadame，verysharply。"ThecabhasnotyetbeenmadethatwillconveymetotheMouseto—night。"
　　"Butyourhusband——"
　　"Myhusbandisacoward，unworthyofsuchawifeashepossesses。Atthecrisisofourfortunes——What’sthat？"
　　AtthispainfulmomentMalkieltheSecondwassoovercomebyemotion，thathetrembled，andallowedhisleftfoottorattleslightlyonthesugarbasin。
　　"Whatwasit？"repeatedMadame。
　　"Rats，Ihavenodoubt，"answeredtheProphet，whohadheardnothing。
　　"Ibelievethatthebasementsoftheseoldhousesaresimply——well——
　　simplypermeatedwithrats。"
　　ForamomentMadameblanched，butshewasawomanofspirit，andmoreovershewasalmostintoxicatedwithambition。Recognisedatlastasaladyofpositionandimportanceinoneofthemansionsoftheidioticgreat，shewasmoreanxiousthanevertoremoveforthwithintothecentraldistricts，theretoexercisethatswaywhichshehadsolongdesired。Findingthatthereexistsaworldinwhichprophets——farfrombeingconsideredasdirtyanddeceitfulpersons——areworshippedandadored，entertainedwithPommeryandtreatedalmostasgods，sheyearnedtodwellinthemidstofit。ThepeacefulseclusionoftheMousewasbecomehatefultoher。ThearchitectsandtheirwivesbegantoseemtoherupliftedfancylittlebetterthanthecirclethatfrequentedHagglin’sBuildings，orappearedatthepaltryentertainmentsgivenbytheinhabitantsofDrakeman’sVillas。Shewasresolvedtosoar，andevenratsshouldnotturnherfromherpassionatepurpose。Accordinglyshereplied，——
　　"Ratsornorats，Iintendtoseethismatterout。/Dixisti！/Thenightwanes。Kindlygoatoncetothetelescope。"
　　TheProphetobeyed，firstopeningthewindowintothearea。Therainhadnowclearedoff，buttheskywasstillrathercloudy，andonlyafewstarspeepedhereandthere。
　　"Really，"saidtheProphet，afterapplyinghiswearyeyetothemachine，"reallyIdon’tthinkit’sanygood，therearesovery——"
　　"HavethegoodnesstoplacetheoldladyintheclawsoftheCrab，accordingtothedirectionsofthecowardwhohasdesertedme。"
　　Malkielshookwithshameupontheloving—cup。
　　"ButIreallycan’tfindtheCrab，"saidtheProphet，whowassotiredthathecouldscarcelystand。"IcanseetheGreatBear。"
　　"Thatisnouse。TheBearhasnothingtodowiththeoldlady。YoumustfindtheCrab。Lookagain。"
　　TheProphetdidso。Buthiseyeblinkedwithfatigueandtheheavensswambeforeit。
　　"ThereisnoCrabto—night，"hesaid。"Iassureyouonmyhonourthereisnone。"
　　Exactlyashefinishedmakingthisstatementalowwhistlerangthroughthesilenceofthenight。TheProphetstarted，Madamejumped，andMalkielboundedontheloving—cup。
　　Thewhistlewasrepeated。
　　"It’sthething！"whisperedtheProphet。
　　"Whatthing？"inquiredMadame，whohadbecomeratherpale。
　　"ThedarkthingthattoldmetheCrabwasdressed。Ithascomeagain。"
　　"Myword！"ejaculatedMadame，lookinguneasilyaround。"Whereisit？"
　　JustthenMalkieltheSecond’sfeetoncemorebegantotrembleamongtheplateofMrs。Merillia。
　　"Youhearit！"saidtheProphet，muchimpressed。
　　"Diditrattlelikethattheothernight？"gaspedMadame，seizingtheProphetbythearm。
　　TheProphettoldaliewithhishead。
　　"Addressit，Ibeg，"saidMadame，inagreatstateofexcitement。
　　"MeanwhileIwillretireafewpaces。"
　　Sosaying，shebackedintothepassage，bearingthecandlewithherforcompany，andleavingtheProphetintotaldarkness。Thelowwhistlesoundedagain，andahuskyvoicesaid，——
　　"Areyouthere？"
　　"Yes，"repliedtheProphet，summoningallhiscourage。"Iam。"
　　"What’a’youputoutthelightfor？"saidthevoice，whichseemedtocomefromfaraway。
　　"Ihaven’tputitout，"returnedtheProphet。"It’sgoneaway。"
　　AtthisjunctureMalkiel，impelledbycuriosity，ceasedfromtrembling，and，leaningforwardupontheloving—cup，gluedhiseartothekey—holeofthecupboard。
　　"Whywasyousolateto—night？"proceededthevoice。"She’sbeeninararetaking，Icantellyou。"
　　"Who？"
　　"Who？Youknowwellenough。"
　　"Doyoumeanmygrandmother？"
　　"Yourgrandmother！"ejaculatedthevoicewithapparentsarcasm。"Ah！ofcourse，whatdoyouthink？"
　　"I’msureIdon’tknow，"saidthepoorProphet，whosereasonwasbeginningtototteruponitsthrone。
　　"Well，"proceededthevoice，"shethoughtyou’dgiveitup。"
　　"What——mygrandmotherdid？"
　　"Ah，yourgrandmother。Getawaywithyou！Ha！ha！ha！"
　　Andthemysteriousvisitantbrokeforthintoapealofrathermundanelaughter。Afterindulginginthisunseemlymirthforaboutaminuteandahalf，thepersonageresumed，——
　　"TheCrabdidforher。"
　　UponhearingthemysticwordMadamecreptstealthilyapaceortwonearertothedoor，whiletheProphetexclaimed，——
　　"ThedressedCrab？"
　　"Ah，whatdo/you/think？Notawinkofsleepandthoughteveryminute’dbe’ernext。"
　　"GoodHeavens！"