"IdidnottakeobservationsofVenusfirst，"answeredtheProphet，withacertainproudreserve。"Ibeganbyanexaminationinto’TheMilkyWay。’"
　　SirTiglathimpoundedanothercrumpet。
　　"Goon，youngman，"hecried。"Theoldastronomerlendethear。"
　　TheProphet，whofeltverymuchlikeanervousundergraduateundergoinga/viva—voce/examination，continued，——
　　"Ibecamedeeplyinterested，stronglyattractedbythe——theheavenlybodies。Theyfascinatedme。Icouldthinkofnothingelse。"
　　LadyEnid’sScottishlipstightenedalmostimperceptibly。
　　"Icouldtalkofnothingelse，"proceededtheProphet。"CouldI，grannie？"
　　"No，indeed，Hennessey，"assentedMrs。Merillia。"Allothertopicswerebanishedfromdiscussion。"
　　"All，"criedtheProphet，withincreasingfervourandlackofself—
　　consciousness。"Icouldnottearmyselffromthetelescope。Ilongedforaperpetualnightandfoundthedayalmostintolerablyirksome。"
　　SirTiglath’sbrick—redcountenancewasirradiatedwithasmilethatdidnotlackgeniality。
　　"Theoldastronomerlendethattentiveeartotheyoungman’sepic，"heroared，throughthecrumpet。"Heapproveththeyoungman’sadmirationfortheheavenlybodies。Goon。"
　　ButatthelastcommandtheProphetseemedsuddenlytojib。Thereservedexpressionreturnedtohisface。
　　"That’sall，SirTiglath，"hesaid。
　　TheastronomerandMrs。MerilliaagainexchangedaglancewhichwasnotunobservedbyLadyEnid。ThenSirTiglath，withanabruptandportentousgravity，exclaimedinthunderoustones，——
　　"Sir，areyouamanofscienceorhaveyouthebrainofacharlatanenclosedinthefleshyenvelopeofaconjurerandasinner？Doyoustudythenobleandbeautifulstarsfortheirownsakestofindoutwhattheyare，andwhattheyaredoing，whatistheirnatureandwhattheirplaceinthegreatscheme，ordoyoupeekandpryatthemthroughthekeyholeofacontemptiblecuriosityinordertodiscoverwhatyouthinktheycandoforyou，tosetyouonhigh，topuffyououtintoapersonageandcauseyoutobenoticedofthefoolishonesofthisworld？Whichareyou，sir，ayoungmanofpartswhosehandIcangraspfraternally，oraninsulterofplanets，sir，aPeepingTomuponthegloriousnudityofVenus，aPaulPrysquintingatthemysteriesofMercuryforanunholyand，whatismore，anidioticpurpose？Whatdoyouaskofthestars，sir？Telltheoldastronomerthat！"
　　TheProphetwasconsiderablytakenabackbythistirade，whichcausedthemanyornamentsintheprettyroomtotremble。Hegazedathisgrandmother，andfoundhernoddingapprovalofSirTiglath。HeglancedatLadyEnid。Shewasleaningbackinherchairandlookingamused，likeapersonatanentertainment。
　　"WhatdoIask，SirTiglath？"hemurmuredinsomeconfusion。
　　"Doyouaskaboutyourreverentgranddam’shallowedankles，sir？Doyouafflictthestarswithinquiriesaboutthestateoftheridiculousweather？Isthatit？"
　　TheProphetunderstoodthatMrs。Merilliahadbeenfrankwiththeastronomer。Hecastuponheraglanceofrespectfulreproach。
　　"Yes，Hennessey，"sheanswered，"Ihave。Mydearchild，Ithoughtitforthebest。Thispropheticbusinesswouldsoonhavebeenturningthehouseupsidedown，andatmyageI’mreallynotequaltolivingatclosequarterswithadeterminedyoungprophet。Todosowouldupsetthehabitsofalifetime。SoSirTiglathknowsallaboutit。"
　　Therewasamomentofsilence，whichwasbrokenbytheagreeablevoiceofLadyEnidsaying，——
　　"Allaboutwhat？Remember，please，thatI’mayoungwomanandthatallyoungwomenshareonequality。Allaboutwhat，please？"
　　Mrs。MerillialookedattheProphet。TheProphetlookedatSirTiglath，whowaggedhisgreatheadandcried，withrollingpathosandrebuke，——
　　"Oh—h—h—h！"
　　"Please——Mr。Vivian！"repeatedLadyEnid，withconsiderabledetermination。
　　"GranniemeansthatI——that——well，thatIhavebeenenabledbythestarstoforetellcertainfutureevents，"saidtheProphet，glancingratherfurtivelyatSirTiglathwhilehespoke，tonotetheeffectofthedesperatedeclaration。"
　　"Oh—h—h—h！"bellowedthedistressedastronomer，shakinglikeajellyinhiswrath。
　　"What？"criedLadyEnid，inanalmostpiercingvoice，andwithamannerthathadsuddenlybecomemostanimated。"What——likeMalkiel’s/Almanac/
　　does？"
　　ThisremarkhadaverystrikingeffectuponSirTiglath，aneffectindeedsostrikingthatitheldMrs。Merillia，LadyEnidandtheProphetinaconditionofparalyticexpectationforatleastthreeminutesbythegrandmother’sclockinthecornerofthedrawing—room。
　　Thevenerableastronomerwasalreadyverystoutinpersonandveryinflamedinappearance。Butatthispointinthediscoursehesuddenlybecamesoverymuchstouterandsoverymuchmoreinflamed，thathisaudienceofthreegazeduponhimratheraslittlechildrengazeupondoughwhichhasbeensetbythecookto"rise"andwhichisfulfillingitsmissionwithanunexpected，andindeedintemperate，vivacity。Theireyesgrewround，theirfeaturesrigid，theirhandstense，theirattitudesexpectant。Leaningforward，theystareduponSirTiglathwithanunwinkingfixityandpreternaturaldeterminationthatwasalmostentirelyinfantine。Andwhiletheydidsohecontinuedslowlytoexpandinsizeandtodeepenincolouruntilmortalityseemedtodropfromhim。Heceasedtobeamanandbecameaphenomenon，apurplethingthatjourneyedtowardssomeunutterableend，portentousasmarchingjudgment，tragicasfate，searchingasepidemic，andyetheavilypaintedandgenerallytouchedupbythebrushofsomehumorousdemon，suchaslaysabouthiminpreparationforChristmaspantomime，sworntoprovidethegiants’facesandtheogres’headsforDruryLane。
　　"Don’t！"atlastcriedayoungvoice。"Don’t，SirTiglath！"
　　Apealoflaughterfollowedtheremark，ofthatlaughterwhichisloudandyetentirelywithoutthesavinggraceofmerriment，ameresuddendemonstrationofhysteria。
　　"Oh，SirTiglath——don’t！"
　　Asecondlaughjoinedthefirstandrangupwithit，older，butalsohysterical——Mrs。Merillia’s。
　　"No，no——pleasedon’t，SirTig——Tig——"
　　Athirdlaughburstintothering，seemingtocompleteitfatally——theProphet’s。
　　"SirTiglath——forHeaven’ssake——don’t！"
　　Theadjurationcamefromatrioofchokedvoices，andmighthavegivenpauseeventoadescendingliftorotherinflexibleandblindmachine。
　　Butstilltheastronomergrewsteadilymoregiganticinpersonandmorelikethegodofwineinhue。Thethreevoicesfailed，andtheterrible，unitedlaughterwasjustuponthepointofbreakingforthagainwhenadiversionoccurred。Thedoorofthedrawing—roomwassoftlyopened，andMrs。FancyQuingletappeareduponthethreshold，holdinginherhandsanice—woolshawlforthecomfortofhermistress。Itchancedthatasthephenomenonoftheastronomerwasbaseduponalargeelbowchairexactlyfacingthedoorshewasinstantlyandfullyconfrontedbyit。
　　Shedidnotdroptheshawl，asanyordinarymaidwouldmostprobablyhavedone。Mrs。Fancywasnotofthatkidney。Shedidnoteventurntail，orgiveamonth’swarningorascream。Shewasofthosewomenwho，whentheymeettheinevitable，instinctivelyseemtorecognisethatitdemandscourageasamannerandtruthasagreeting。She，therefore，staredstraightatSirTiglath——muchasshestaredatMrs。
　　Merilliawhenshewasabouttoarrangethatlady’swigforanassembly——andremarkedinadecisive，thoughveryrespectful，toneofvoice，——
　　"Thegentleman’sabouttoburst，ma’am。Ican’tspeakdifferentnormeanother。"
　　Uponfindingtheirthoughtsthusdeftlygatheredupandwovenintoamoderatelygrammaticalsentence，Mrs。Merillia，LadyEnidandtheProphetexperiencedasenseofextraordinaryrelief，andnolongerfeltthesternnecessityoflaughing。ButthiswasnotthemiracleworkedbyMrs。Fancy。Hadshe，eventhen，restedsatisfiedwithheracumen，maintainedsilenceandawaitedtheimmediatefulfilmentofherprediction，whatmusthavehappenedcanhardlybeindoubt。Butshewasseizedbythatexcessofbraverywhichiscalledfoolhardiness，anddrivenbyittothatpeculiarandthoughtlessvehemenceofactionwhichsometimeswinsV。C。’sformenwho，inlaterdays，concealamazementunderthecherisheddecoration。Shesuddenlylaiddowntheice—woolshawluponaneighbouringsociable，walkeduptothephenomenonoftheastronomer，andremarkedtoitwithgreatdistinctness，——
　　"You’reabouttoburst，sir。Iknowit，sir，andIcan’tknowother。"
　　Atthispointthemiraclehappened，for，insteadofrespondingtothelady’s—maid’sappeal，andpromptlydisintegratingintohisrespectiveatoms，SirTiglathsuddenlybecamecomparativelysmallandcomparativelypale，satforward，waggedhisheadatMrs。Fancy，andrumbledoutinhisordinaryvoice，——
　　"Haveyouneverheardwhereliarsgoto，woman？Oh—h—h—h！"
　　Onfindingthatnothingofsupremehorrorwasabouttohappen，Mrs。
　　Fancy’scourage——asisthewayofwoman’scourage——forsookher，shebrokeintotears，andhadtobeimmediatelyledforthtotheservant’shallbytheProphet，exclaimingpersistentlywitheverysteptheytook，——
　　"Ican’thelpit，MasterHennessey。IsayagainasIsaidafore——thegentleman’sabouttoburst。Themthatknowsotherletthemdeclareit。"
　　"Yes，yes。It’sallright，Fancy，it’sallright。Weallagreewithyou。Now，now，youmustn’tcry。"
　　"Ican’t——know——other，MasterHennessey，nor——meandifferent。Ican’tindeed，MasterHennessey，Ican’t——knowother——nor——"
　　"No，no。Ofcoursenot。There，sitdownandcomposeyourself。"
　　Hegavethepoor，afflictedliartenderlyintothecareoftheupperhousemaid，andretracedhisstepsquicklytothedrawing—room。AsheentereditheheardSirTiglathsaying，——
　　"ThestarsintheircoursestremblewhentheaccursednameofMalkielismentioned，andtheoldastronomerisdissolvedinwrathatsoundoftheperniciousword。Oh—h—h—h！"
　　"There，Hennessey！"criedMrs。Merillia，turningswiftlytohergrandsonwithallhercapribandsfluttering。"YouhearwhatSirTiglathsays？"
　　"Ifthataccursednamebelongedtoanindividual，"continuedtheastronomer，wavinghishandsfranticallyoverthelastremainingcrumpet，"insteadofrepresentingasyndicateofruffianlyundergroundcriminals，theoldastronomer，wellstrickeninyearsthoughhebe，wouldhunthimoutofhishiding—placeandslayhimwithhisownfeebleandscientifichands。"
　　Sosaying，hegraspedthecrumpetasifithadbeenanassegai，andassailedhimselfwithitsoviolentlythatitentirelydisappeared。
　　"ButMalkielisan——"beganMrs。Merillia。
　　TheProphetstoppedherwithaglance，whosealmostterror—strickenauthoritysurprisedherintosilence。
　　"ButIthoughtMalkielwasaman，"criedLadyEnid，lookingtowardstheProphet。
　　"He——forIwillnotfoulmylipswiththeaccursedname——isnotaman，"
　　roaredSirTiglath。"Heisasyndicate。Heisacompany。Hemeetstogether，doubtless，insomelowdenofthecity。Hereadsreportstohimselfoftheill—gottengainsaccruingfromhisrepeatedinsultstotheheavensroundsomeabominabletablecoveredwithgreencloth。Hequotesthepricesofthesharesinhim，anddeclaresdividends，andcarriesbalancesforward，andsomedaywillwindhimselfuporcasthimselfanewuponthemercyofthemarket。PartofhimisprobablyJew，partSouthAfricanandpartAmerica。Thewholeofhimisthriceaccursed。"
　　Hebegantoexpandoncemore，butMrs。Merilliaperceivedthetendencyandcheckeditintime。
　　"Pray，SirTiglath，"shesaidalmostseverely，"don’t。WithmysprainedankleIamreallynotequaltoit。"
　　SirTiglathhadenoughchivalrytostop，andLadyEnidonceagainchippedin。
　　"But，really，I’malmostsureMalkielisa——"
　　ShecaughttheProphet’seye，asMrs。Merilliahad，andpaused。Heturnedtotheastronomer。
　　"Buthowcanacompanymakeitselfintoaprophet？"heasked。
　　"Youngman，youtalkidly！Whatarecompaniesformedforifnottomakeprofits？"retortedSirTiglath。"Everyoneisacompanynowadays。Don’tyouknowthat？Murchison，thefamouswriterofnovels，isacompany。
　　Jeremy，theactor—manager，isacompany。SoisBynionthequackdoctor，andtheRev。Mr。Kinnimerwhosuppliestractstotheupperclasses，andUptontheartist，whosepicturesmaketourslikeSarahBernhardt，andWatkins，whosephilosophysellsmorethanTupper’s，andCarolineJingo，whowriteswarpoemsandpatrioticodes。Ifyouweretoinvitethesesupposedsevenpersonstodinner，andallofthemcame，youwouldhavetolaycoversforatleastfiftyscoundrels。Oh—h—h—h！"
　　"Well，buthowareyousurethat——ahem——the/Almanac/personisalsoplural，SirTiglath？"inquiredMrs。Merillia。
　　"BecauseIsoughthimwiththefirmintentionofassaultandbatteryforfive—and—fortyyears，"returnedtheastronomer。"AndonlygaveupmyChristianquestwhenIwasassured，onexcellentauthority，thathewasacompany，andhadoriginallybeenformedintheUnitedStatesforthemakingofmoneyandthedefianceoftheheavenlybodies。Maybullsandbearsdestroyhim！"
　　"Well，it’sveryodd，"saidLadyEnid。"Veryoddindeed。"
　　AsshespokesheglancedattheProphetandmethiseyes。Therearemomentswhenthemereexpressioninanotherperson’seyesseemstoshoutarequestatone。TheexpressionintheProphet’seyesperformedthisfeatatthismoment，withsuchabruptvehemence，thatLadyEnidfeltalmostdeafened。Sheleanedbackinherchair，asifavoidingamissile，andexclaimed，——
　　"Ofcourse！AndIneverguessedit！"
　　"Guessedwhat，mydear？"inquiredMrs。Merillia。
　　"Why，that——he——it——wasacompany，"repliedLadyEnid。
　　TheProphetblessedandthankedherwithapiercingandsavedlook。
　　"NorI，"heassented，descendingintotheverymineofsubterfugeforhisrecentoath’ssake，"norI，orIshouldneverhavetakentheuselesstroublethatIhavetaken。
　　Hemanagedtosaythiswithsuchconvictionthathisgrandmother，who，inthepast，hadalwaysfoundhimtobetransparentlyhonestandsincere，wascarriedawaybythedeception。Shewrinkledherlongnose，aswasherhabitwhensincerelypleased，andcriedgaily，——
　　"Then，Hennessey，nowyou’veheardSirTiglath’sopinionofthepracticeoftryingtoturnthestarsintomoney—makers，andtheplanetsintooldgipsywomenwhotellfortunestosillyservantgirls，I’msureyou’llneverstudythemagain。Come，promiseme！"
　　TheProphetmadenoanswer。
　　"Hennessey，"criedhisgrandmother，withtenderpertinacity，"promiseme！SirTiglath，joinyourvoicetomine！"
　　SirTiglathhadbecomereallygrave，nottheatricallyserious。
　　"Youngman，"hesaid，"yourreveredgranddamasksofyouarighteousthing。Whoareyoutotriflewiththoseshiningworldsthatmakeabeautyofthenightandthatstireternityinthesoulofman？WhoareyoutoglueyourpinpointofahumaneyetoyondermachineandplaywiththestupendousJupiterandSaturnasachildplayswithmarblesorwithpeg—tops？Whoareyouthatthinksthoseglitteringmonstershavenothingtodobuttoinformyourpigmybrainofsnowfalls，streetaccidents，andlove—affairsprematurely，sothatyoumayflauntaboutyourpocket—handkerchiefofasquareplumingyourdwarfshipthatyouareaprophet？Fie，youngman，andagainfie！Bowtheknee，asIdo，tothemysteriesofthegreatuniversalscheme，insteadofbotheringthemtoturninformersand’giveaway’theknowledgewhichisdeliberatelyhiddenfromus。Showmeamanthatcanunderstandthepresentandyou’llhaveshownmeagod。Andyetyouknockatthegatesoftheheavensthroughthattelescopeandclamourtobetoldthefuture！Fieuponyou，youngman，fie！Oh—h—h—h！"
　　NowtheProphet，ashasbeenbeforeobserved，possessedaverysensitivenature。Hewasalsoverydevotedtohisgrandmother，andhadanextraordinaryreverencefortheworld—famedattainmentsofSirTiglathButt。Therefore，whenheheardMrs。Merillia’spleading，andtheastronomer’sweightydenunciation，hewasdeeplymoved。
　　Nevertheless，sostronglyhadrecenteventsappealedtohiscuriosity，soardentlydidhedesiretosearchintotherealityofhisownpeculiarpowers，thatitisverydoubtfulwhetherhemightnothavewithstoodboththebehestsofaffectionandofadmirationhaditnotbeenthattheytooktothemselvesanally，whoseforceisoneofthemovingspiritsoftheworld。Thisallywasfear。JustastheProphetwasbeginningtofeelobstinateandtosteelhimselftoresistance，herememberedthefierceandhorriblethreatsofMalkieltheSecond。Ifheshouldceasetoconcernhimselfwiththestars，ifheshouldceasetoprophesy，notaloneshouldherestorepeacetohisbelovedgrandmother，andpaythetributeofrespecttoSirTiglath，butheshoulddomore。
　　Heshouldpreservehisquickfrombeingsearchedandhiscorefrombeingprobed。Hismarrow，too，wouldberescuedfromthepiercingithadbeensodevoutlypromised。Thedread，bywhichhewasnowcompanioned——ofMalkiel，ofthatportentousandunseenladywhodweltbesidethesecretwatersoftheMouse，ofthoseimaginedoffshootsoftheprophetictree，CoronaandCapricornus——thiswoulddropaway。Hewouldbefreeoncemore，light—hearted，ahappyandmildlyintellectualmanofthetown，emergedfromthethrallofbogies，andfrombeneaththeyokewhichhealreadyfeltlaiduponhisshouldersbythoseaugustcreatureswhowerethecentreofthearchitecturalcircle。
　　AllthesethingssuddenlypresentedthemselvestotheProphet’smindwithextraordinaryvividnessandforce。Hisresolvewastakeninamoment，and，turningtohiseagergrandmotherandtothestillslightlyinflatedastronomer，heexclaimedwithoutfurtherhesitation，——
　　"Verywell。I’llgiveitup。Ipromiseyou。"
　　Mrs。Merilliaclappedhermittenstogetheralmostlikeagirl。
　　"Thankyou，SirTiglath，"shecried。"Iknewyouwouldpersuadethedearboy。"
　　Theastronomerbeamedliketherisingsun。
　　"Letthemorningstars——freedfrominsult——singtogether！"heroared。
　　TheProphetglancedtowardsLadyEnid。Shewaslookingalmostnarrowandnotatallpleased。She，andallherfamily，hadahabitofsuddenlyappearingthinnerthanusualwhentheywereputout。ThishabithaddescendedtothemfromaremoteHighlandancestor，whohadperishedofstarvationandbeenveryvexedaboutit。TheProphetfeltsurethatshedidnotapplaudhisresolution，buthecouldnotdiscussthematterwithherinpublic，andshenowgotup——lookingalmostlikeaskeleton——andsaidthatshemustgo。SirTiglathimmediatelyrolledupoutofhischairandroaredthathewouldaccompanyher。
　　"Theoldastronomerwillprotecttheinjudiciousyoungfemale，"heexclaimed，"lestshewanderforthintoaccursedplaces。"
　　"I’monlygoingtoHillStreet，"saidLadyEnid，rathersnappishly。
　　"Cometoseemeto—morrowatthree，"shewhisperedtotheProphetasshetookhishand。"Wemusthaveatalk。Don’ttellanybody！"
　　TheProphetnoddedsurreptitiously。Hefeltthatshewascurioustoherfinger—tipsashegentlypressedthem。
　　Whenheandhisgrandmotherwerealonetogetherherangthedrawing—
　　roombell。Mr。Ferdinandappeared。
　　"Mr。Ferdinand，"saidtheProphet，"kindlycallGustavustoyouraidandtakeawaythetelescope。"
　　"Sir！"saidMr。Ferdinandingreatastonishment。
　　"Takeawaythetelescope。"
　　"Certainly，sir。Whereshallweplaceit，sir？"
　　"Anywhere，"saidtheProphet。"Inthepantry——thesquare——inPiccadillyifyoulike——it’sallthesametome。"
　　And，unabletotrusthimselftosaymore，hehurriedalmosttumultuouslyfromtheroom。
　　"Here’sago，Gustavus，"remarkedMr。Ferdinandamomentlaterasheenteredtheservants’hall。
　　"Where，Mr。Ferdinand？"repliedGustavus，glancingupfromadishofteaandacoupleofWorthingshrimpswithwhichhewassolacinganidlemoment。
　　"Here，inthismansion，Gustavus。Meandyou’vegottotakethetelescopeoutofthedrawing—room，andMasterHennesseysaysifwewishwecanchuckitinPiccadilly。"
　　TheroundeyesofGustavusbrightened。
　　"Thatismywish，Mr。Ferdinand，"heexclaimed。"Here’salark！"
　　Hesprangup。ButMr。Ferdinandcheckedhisveryagreeablevivacity。
　　"Iamyourhead，Gustavus，"heremarked，withsevereambiguity，"andmasterhavingalsosaidthat，ifwewish，wecansettheinstrumentinthebutler’spantry，Ihavedecidedthatsoitshallmoreoverbe。Itwillbeveryusefultousthere。"
　　"Useful，Mr。Ferdinand！However——？"
　　"Nevermind，Gustavus，nevermind，"repliedMr。Ferdinandwithsomeacrimony。
　　Beingofadignifiednaturehedidnotcaretoexplaintoasubordinatethattherewasaverypleasant—lookingsecond—cookjustarrivedatthehouseoftheLordChancellorontheoppositesideofthesquare。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　THEDOUBLELIFEOFMISSMINERVA
　　Onthefollowingday，justastheProphetwasdrawingonanewpairofsuedeglovespreparatorytosettingouttoHillStreet，Gustavusenteredwithasilversalver。
　　"Atelegramforyou，sir，"hesaid。
　　TheProphettooktheblushingenvelope，rippeditgentlyopen，andreadasfollows：——
　　"Madameandselfmustconferwithyouthisafternoonwithoutfail。
　　Shallbewithyoufivesharp；mostimportant。
　　JUPITERSAGITTARIUS。"
　　GustavusnearlydroppedatsightofthewrinklesthatseamedtheProphet’susuallysmoothfaceashegraspedthefullmeaningofthisportentousmissive。
　　"Anyanswer，sir？"
　　Thewrinklesincreasedandmultiplied。
　　"Anyreply，sir？"
　　"What——no。"
　　Gustavusglidedinawell—trainedmannertowardsthedoor。WhenhegottheretheProphetcried，rathersharply，——
　　"Stopamoment！"
　　Gustavusstopped。