"Ireallybegyourpardon，"saidtheProphet，whileMr。Sagittariusstoodstillintheviolentattitudeofonedeterminedtododgesolongashehasbreath。"Iamnotatallinthehabitof"——Mr。Sagittariusdodged——"ofintrudinguponstrangers——"Mr。SagittariusdodgedagainwithsuchextraordinaryabruptnessanddeterminationthathenearlycausedtheyounglibrariantoswallowtheProphet’sgoldenbribe。"I
　　seeyoudon’tbelieveme，"theProphetcontinued，flushingpinkbutstillholdinghisground，andindeedtryingtoturnMr。Sagittarius’sflankbyastrategicmovementofalmostmilitaryprecision。"Iseethatplainly，but——"Mr。Sagittariusduckedtotheleft，endeavouringtocoverthemanoeuvrebyanalmostsimultaneousandextremelypassionatefeinttowardstheProphet’scentre，whichwasimmediatelywithdrawningoodorder——"butyourremark——arkablename，Saag——itt—ittarius，suggestedtomethatyouarerea—eallythemanIseek。"
　　HehadnowgotMr。SagittariusintoaveryawkwardbitofcountrybetweentheletterP。intherack，underwhichreposedMissPartridge’scorrespondence，andthenewspaperbureau，withthecounterimmediatelyonhisrear，andtakingadvantageofthiscircumstance，hecontinuedrapidly：
　　"MayIaskwhetheryourecentlyreceivedaletter——onemoment！——
　　envelope——crest——Ionlywanttoknowifyouhavereceived——only——anelephantrampant——swarmof——ofbees——"
　　"Ihaveneverreceivedarampantelephantandaswarmofbees，"criedMr。Sagittariuswitheverysymptomofunbridledterror。"Help，FrederickSmith！"
　　"Rightyouare，MalkieltheSecond！"criedtheyounglibrarian，hastilypocketingthehalfsovereignandmakingafeverishlungeatnothinginparticularoverthecounter。"Rightyouare！"
　　"MalkieltheSecond！"ejaculatedtheProphet。"ThenyouarethemanI
　　seek。"
　　MalkieltheSecond——foritwasindeedhe——sankbackagainstthecounterinanattitudeofabandonedprostrationthatwouldhavemadeafortuneofacomicactor。
　　"ItrustedtoJellybrand’s，"hesaid，drawingfromhistailpocketawhitehandkerchiefcoveredwithapatternofpinkstorksinflight。"I
　　trustedtoJellybrand’sandJellybrand’shasbetrayedme。Oh，FrederickSmith！"
　　Heputastorktoeacheye。Theyounglibrarianassumedaninjuredair。
　　"Itwastheagitationdidit，Mr。Sagittarius，"hesaid。"Ifyouhadn’ta—kep’dodgingIshouldn’thavelostmymemory。"
　　AndhelookedavariciouslyattheProphet，whosmiledathimreassuringlyanddrewforthacardcase。
　　"Ifeelsure，Mr。Sag——Malkiel——"
　　"MalkieltheSecond，sir，ismynameifitisbetrayedbyJellybrand’s，"saidthatgentlemanwithsuddendignity。"Thereisnoneedofanymister。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"saidtheProphet，handinghiscard。"Thatismynameandaddress。MayIbegyoutoforgivemyapparentanxietytomakeyouracquaintance，andimploreyoutograntmeafewmomentsofprivateconversationonamatteroftheutmostimportance？"
　　MalkieltheSecondreadthecard。
　　"BerkeleySquare，"hesaid。"/The/BerkeleySquare？"
　　"Exactly，theBerkeleySquare，"saidtheProphet，modestly。
　　"NottheoneatBrixtonRisebehindtheKimmins’smews？"saidMalkieltheSecond，suspiciously。
　　"Certainlynot。TheonenearGrosvenorSquare。"
　　"That’sbetter，"saidMalkiel，uponwhomtheProphet’saddresshadevidentlymadeagoodimpression。"Kimmins’sisnoclassatall。Hadyoucomefromthere，I——butwhatmayyouwantwithme？"
　　TheProphetglancedsignificantlyattheyounglibrarian，whowasleaninguponthecounterinatense，keyholeposition，withhisprivateearturnedsomewhatostentatiouslytowardsthetwospeakers。
　　"Icantellyouinaninnerroom，"hemurmured，inhismostingratiatingmanner。
　　"You’recertainit’snotBerkeleySquarebehindKimmins’s？"saidMalkiel，withalastflickerofsuspicion。
　　"Quitecertain——quite。"
　　"FrederickSmith，"saidMalkieltheSecond，"sinceJellybrand’shasbetrayedmeJellybrand’smustabidetheconsequences。Showthisgentlemanandmetotheparlour。"
　　"Right，Mr。Sagittarius，"repliedtheyounglibrarianwhosememoryhadagainbecomeexcellent。"ButMissMinervaiscomingatthree—thirty。"
　　"Hasshebespoketheparlour，FrederickSmith？"
　　"Yes，Mr。Sagittarius。"
　　"Thenshecan’thaveit。That’sall。Jellybrand’smustabidethefullconsequencesofmybetrayal。Goforward，FrederickSmith。"
　　Theyounglibrarianwentforwardtowardsadoorofdealandgroundglasswhichhethrewopenwithsomeceremony。
　　"Theparlour，gents，"hesaid。
　　"Afteryou，sir，afteryou，"saidMalkieltheSecond，makingasidestepandbringinghisfeettogetherinthefirstposition。
　　"No，no，"rejoinedtheProphet，gentlydrawingthesagetothefront，andinsertinghimintotheparlourinsuchaningeniousmannerthathedidnotperceivethejourneyofasecondhalfsovereignfromthepersonoftheProphettothatoftheyounglibrarian，whothereafterclosedthedealandgroundglassdoor，andreturnedtothecounter，whistlinginanabsent—mindedmanner，"I’maHappyMillionairefromColorado。"
　　CHAPTERIII
　　THETWOPROPHETSPARTAKEOF"CREAMINGFOAM。"
　　"Andnow，sir，"saidMalkieltheSecond，pointingtoacoupleofcanechairswhich，withthetable，endeavoured，ratherunsuccessfully，tofurnishforththeparlouratJellybrand’s，"nowsir，whatdoyouwantwithme？"
　　Ashespokehethrewhisblackovercoatwideopen，seatedhimselfontheedgeofoneofthechairsinadignifiedattitude，andcrossedhisfeet——whichwerenotinnocentofspats——oneovertheother。
　　TheProphetwasresolvedtodareall，andhe，therefore，answeredboldly，——
　　"MalkieltheSecond，Iwishtospeaktoyouasoneprophettoanother。"
　　AtthisremarkMalkielstartedviolently，anddartedasearchingglancefrombeneathhisblondeeyebrowsatHennessey。
　　"DoyouliveintheBerkeleySquare，sir，"hesaid，"andclaimtobeaprophet？"
　　"Ido，"saidHennessey，withmodestdetermination。
　　Malkielsmiled，alongandwreathedsmilethatwasfulloflusciousmelancholyandtragicsweetness。
　　"Theassumptionseemsratherridiculous——forgiveme，"heexclaimed。
　　"TheBerkeleySquare！WhateverwouldMadamesay？"
　　"Madame？"saidtheProphet，inquiringly。
　　"MadameMalkiel，orMadameSagittarius，asshealwayspasses。"
　　"Yourwife？"
　　"Myhonouredlady，"saidMalkiel，withpride。"Moretomealmostthananylunarguideorstarrymonitor。What，oh，whatwouldshesaytoaprophetfromtheBerkeleySquare？"
　　Heburstintohollowlaughter，shakinguponthecanechairtillitsveryfoundationsseemedthreatenedasbyanearthquake，andwasobligedtoapplytheflightofstorkstohiseyesbeforehecouldinanydegreerecoverhisequanimity。Atlengthheglancedupwithtearsrollingdownhischeeks。
　　"Excuseme，sir，"hesaid。"Butwhatcanyouknowofprophecyinsuchafashionableneighbourhood，closetoGrosvenorSquareandwithinsight，asonemaysay，ofPiccadilly？Oh，dear，oh，dear！"
　　"Butreally，"saidtheProphet，whohadflushedred，butwhostillspokewithpleasantmildness，"whatinfluencecanneighbourhoodhaveuponsuchasuperterrestrialmatter？"
　　"DidIsaiahresideintheBerkeleySquare，sir？"
　　"Ifancynot。Still——"
　　"Ifancynot，too，"rejoinedMalkiel。"NorBernardWilkinseither，oranyprophetthateverIheardof。Why，evenJesseJoneslivesoffPerkin’sRoad，WandsworthCommon，thoughhedoeskeepasitting—roominBernersStreetjusttoseehisclientsin，andheisaverylow—classperson，evenforaprophet。No，no，sir，Madameisquiteright。Shemarriedmedespitethedamning——yes，Isay，sir，thedamningfactthatIwasaprophet——"hereMalkieltheSecondbroughtdownoneofthedogskingloveswithviolenceuponthericketyparlourtable——"butbeforeeverwewenttotheRegistrar’sshemademetakeasolemnoath。
　　Whatwasit，doyousay？"
　　"Yes，Ido，"saidHennessey，leaningforwardandgazingintoMalkiel’slongandexcitedfaceroundwhichtheheavymatofpomadedhairvibrated。
　　"Itwasthis，sir——tomixwithnoprophetssolongaswebothshouldlive。Prophets，shetrulysaid，arelow—class，evendirty，persons。
　　Theirparties，their’athomes’areshoddy。Theyliveinfourth—rateneighbourhoods。Theyburngasandsitonhorsehair。Onlyinrarecasesdotheyhaveanybathroomintheirhouses。Theirinfluencewouldbebadforthechildrenwhentheybegintogrowup。HowcouldCoronamakeher/debut/"——Malkielpronounceditdebbew——"inpropheticcircles？HowcouldshecomeoutinDrakeman’sVillas，Tooting，ordancewithsuchyoungfellersasfrequentHagglin’sBuildings，ClaphamRise？Howcouldshedoit，sir？"
　　"Idon’tknow，I’msure，"gaspedtheProphet。
　　"NorI，sir，norI，"continuedMalkiel，withunabatedfervour。"Andit’sthesamewithCapricornus。Myboyshallnotbethrowninwithprophets。DidMalkieltheFirststartthe/Almanac/forthat？Didhefosterittillitwentfromthepoorservantgirl’satticintothegildedapartmentsofthearistocracyandlayevenuponRoyaltablesforthat？Didhe，Isay？"
　　"Ihaven’tanidea，"saidtheProphet。
　　"Hedidnot，sir。AndI——Imyself"——hearrangedthediamondpininhiswhitesatintiewithanalmostimperialgesture——"havenotfolloweduponthelineshelaiddownwithoutimbibing，asImaytrulysay，theloftyspiritthatguidedhim，theloftysocialspirit，asMadamecallsit。Therehavebeenotherprophets，Iknow。Thereareotherprophets。I
　　donotattempttodenyit。Butwhereelsethanhere，sir"——thedogskinglovelayuponthebreastofthechocolatebrownfrockcoat——"whereelsethanherewillyoufindaprophetwhohideshisidentitybeneathan/alias/，whoremains，asMadamealwayssays，/perdew/，andwhoconductshisprofessiononhonourableandbusiness—likelines？AmI
　　dressedlikeaprophet？"HesuddenlybroughthisdoubledfistdownupontheProphet’sknee。
　　"No，"criedHennessey。"Certainlynot！"
　　"Why，sir，howcanIbewhenItellyouthatMerriman&SaxsterofRegentStreetaremytailors，andhavebeensincemyfirstpairoftrouserings？DoIbearmyselfprophetically？IthinkyouwillagreethatIdonotwhenyouknowthatIamfrequentlymistakenforanoutsidebroker——yes，sir，andthatthishasevenhappeneduponthepieratMargate。YouhaveseenmydemeanouratJellybrand’s。Yousawmecomeintothelibrary。YousawmymannerwithFrederickSmith。Wasitassuming？DidIlorditoverthelad？"
　　"Certainlynot。"
　　"No。Imighthavebeenanybody，anyordinarypersonlivinginGrosvenorPlace，or，likeyourself，intheBerkeleySquare。Andsoiteveris。
　　Otherprophetsthereare——possiblymenofacertainabilityeveninthatdirection——butthereisonlyoneMalkiel，onlyonewhoattendsstrictlytobusiness，whodrawsagoodincomefromthestars，sir，andsatisfiesthepublicmonthin，monthout，withoutmakingafussaboutit。Waitafewyears，sir，onlywait！"
　　"Certainly，"saidtheProphet。"Iwill。"
　　"Waittillthechildrenaregrownup。WaittillCapricornushasgothisLatinbyheartandgonetoOxford。Then，andonlythen，youwillknowwhetherMalkieltheSecondistheexceptiontotheruleofprophets。
　　Yes，andMadameshallknowit，too。Shetrustedme，sir，asonlyawomancan。SheknewIwasaprophetandhadaprophetforafatherbeforeme。Andyetshetrustedme。Itwasadaringthingtodo。Manywouldcallitfoolhardy。Wouldn’tthey，sir？"
　　Thedogskinglovewasraised。TheProphethastenedtoreply，——
　　"Idaresaytheywould。"
　　"Butshewasnotafraid，andsheshallhaveherreward。CoronashallneversetfootinDrakeman’sVillas，norbreathetheairofHagglin’s。
　　Imusthaveaglassofwater，Imust，sir，indeed。"
　　Hegaspedheavilyandwasabouttorise，whentheProphetsaid：
　　"Joinmeinaglassofwine。"
　　"Ishouldbedelighted，"Malkielanswered。"Delighted，I’msure，butI
　　doubtwhetherJellybrand’s——"
　　"CouldnotFrederickSmithgooutandfetchusa——apintbottleofchampagne？"saidtheProphet，playingadesperatecardinthepropheticgame。
　　AnexpressionalmostofjovialityoverspreadthetragicfarceofMalkiel’sappearance。
　　"We’llsee，"heanswered，openingthedealdoor。"FrederickSmith！"
　　"Here，Mr。Sagittarius，"criedthesopranovoiceoftheyounglibrarian。
　　"Canyouleavethelibraryforamoment，FrederickSmith？"
　　TheProphetheldupasovereignoverMalkieltheSecond’snarrowshoulder。
　　"Yes，Mr。Sagittarius，forhalfamo！"
　　"Ah！Whereisthenearestchampagne，FrederickSmith？"
　　"Thenearest——"
　　"Champagne，Isaid，FrederickSmith。"
　　"IdaresayIcouldgetadozenatGillow’snexttherabbitshop，"
　　repliedtheyounglibrarian，thoughtfully。
　　TheProphetshudderedtothedepthsofhisbeing，buthewasnowembarkeduponhisenterpriseandmustcrowdallsail。
　　"GotoGillow’s，"heexclaimed，withanassumptionoffeverishgeniality，"andbringbackacoupleofrabbits——Imeanbottles。Theymustbedry。Youunderstand？"
　　Theyounglibrarianlookedoutofthewindow。
　　"Oh，I’llmanagethat，sir。Itain’training，"herepliedcarelessly。
　　TheProphetstifledacryofhorrorashepressedthesovereignintotheyounglibrarian’shand。
　　"Youcankeepthechange，"hewhispered，addinginatremulousvoice，"Tellme——tellmefrankly——doyouthinkinyourownmindthattherewillbeany？"
　　"Idon’tknowaboutinmyownmind，"rejoinedtheyounglibrarian，drawingatweedcapfromsomehiddenrecessbeneaththecounter。"ButifyouonlywanttwobottlesIexpectthere’llbetenbobover。"
　　TheProphetturnedaspaleasashesandhadsomedifficultyinsustaininghimselftotheparlour，whereheandMalkieltheSecondsatdowninsilencetoawaittheyounglibrarian’sreturn。FrederickSmithcamebackinaboutfiveminutes，withanostentatious—lookingbottlesmotheredingoldleafundereacharm。
　　"Therewasfourshillingsapiecetopay，sir，"heremarkedtotheProphetasheplacedthemuponthetable。"Igotthe’ourownmake’
　　brandwiththe’creamingfoam’uponthecorks。"
　　TheProphetbenthishead。Hewasquiteunabletospeak，buthesignedtotheyounglibrariantoopenoneofthebottlesandpouritscontentsintothetwotumblersofthickandratherdustyglassthatJellybrand’skeptforitsmomentsofconviviality。MalkieltheSecondliftedthegoblettothewindowandeyedthebeadednectarwithanairofalmostrakishanticipation。
　　"Ready，sir？"hesaid，turningtotheProphet，who，withatremblinghand，followedhisexample。
　　"Quite——ready，"saidtheProphet，shuttinghiseyes。
　　"Then，"rejoinedMalkieltheSecondinaformalvoice，"here’sluck！"
　　Heheldthetumblertohislips，waitingfortheProphet’sreplytogivethesignalforaunanimousswallowingofthepricelesswine。
　　"Luck，"echoedtheProphetinafalteringvoice。
　　Ashegraduallyrecoveredhisfaculties，heheardMalkieltheSecondsay，withanalmostdebauchedaccent，——
　　"Thatputsheartintoaman。IshallgiveGillowsanorder。Leaveus，FrederickSmith，andrememberthatMissMinervaisonnoaccounttobeletinheretillthisgentlemanandIhavefinishedthesecondbottle。"
　　TheProphetcouldnotresistawildmovementofprotest，whichwasapparentlytakenbytheyounglibrarianasapassionategestureofdismissal。Forhelefttheroomrapidlyandclosedthedoorwithdecisionbehindhim。
　　"Andnow，sir，Iamatyourservice，"saidMalkieltheSecond，courteously。"Letmepouryouanotherglassofwine。"
　　TheProphetassentedmechanically。Itseemedstrangetohavetodiesoyoung，andwithsomanyplansunfulfilled，buthefeltthatitwasuselesstostruggleagainstdestinyandhedrankagain。Thenheheardavoicesay，——
　　"Andnow，sir，Iamallattention。"
　　Helookedup。Hesawtheparlour，thegroundglassofthedoor，thetumblersandbottlesonthetable，thesharpfeaturesandstrained，farcicaleyesofMalkielframedinthematted，curlinghair。Thenallwasnotoveryet。Therewassomethingstillinstoreforhim。Hesatup，pushedthecreamingfour—shillingfoamoutofhissight，turnedtohisinterlocutor，andwithagreateffortcollectedhimself。
　　"Iwanttoconsultyou，"hebegan，"aboutmystrangepowers。"
　　Malkielsmiledwitheasyirony。
　　"StrangepowersinBerkeleySquare！"heejaculated。"TheBerkeleySquare！Butgoon，sir。Whatarethey？"
　　"Havingbeenledtostudythestars，"continuedtheProphetwithmorecomposureandgrowingearnestness，"Ifeltmyselfmovedtomakeaprophecy。"
　　"Weatherforecast，Isuppose，"remarkedMalkiel，laconically。
　　"Howdidyouknowthat？"
　　"Theeasiestkind，sir，thenumberonebeginner’sprophecy。CapricornususedtotellMadamewhattheweather’dbeassoonashecouldtalk。Butgoon，sir，goon，Ibeg。"
　　TheProphetbegantofeelratherlesslikeIsaiah，buthecontinued，withsomedetermination，——
　　"Ifthathadbeenall，IdaresayIshouldhavethoughtverylittleofthematter。"
　　"No，youwouldn’tsir。Whothinkstheirfirstbabyalittleone？Canyoutellmethat？"
　　TheProphetconsideredthequestionforamoment。Thenheanswered，——
　　"Perhapsyou’reright。"
　　"Perhapsso，"rejoinedMalkiel，indulgently。"Well，sir，whatwasyournextattempt——intheBerkeleySquare？"
　　TheProphet’ssensitivenaturewincedundertheobviousironyoftheinterrogation，buteitherthe"creamingfoam"hadrenderedhimdesperate，orhewastosomeextentsteeledagainstthesatirebytheawfulself—respectwhichhadinvadedhimsinceMrs。Merillia’saccident。Inanycaseheansweredfirmly，——
　　"MalkieltheSecond，inBerkeleySquareIhadarelation——anhonouredgrandmother。"
　　"You’vethebetterofmethere，sir。MyparentsandMadame’sareallinBromptonCemetery。Well，sir，you’dgotanhonouredgrandmotherintheBerkeleySquare。Whatofit？"
　　"Shewasnaturallyelderly。"
　　"Andyoupredictedherdeathandshepassedover。Verynaturaltoo，sir。Thenumbertwobeginner’sprophecy。Why，Corona——"
　　ButatthispointtheProphetbrokein。
　　"Excuseme，"hesaidinascandalisedvoice，"excuseme，MalkieltheSecond，shedidnothingofthekind。Whatevermyfaultsmaybe——andtheyaremany，Iamaware——I——I——"
　　Hewasgreatlymoved。
　　"Takeanothersupofwine，sir。Youneedit，"saidMalkiel。
　　TheProphetmechanicallydrankoncemore，graspingtheedgeofthetableforsupportintheenduranceofthefour—bobecstasy。
　　"Youprophesieditandshedidn’tpassover，sir，"continuedMalkiel，withunaffectedsympathy。"Iunderstandtheblow。It’scruelhardwhenaprophecygoeswrong。Why，evenMadame——"