Mr。Ferdinandcastaglanceofrespectful，butunlimited，horrorupontheProphet’sguestsandretired，whiletheProphet，callinguponallhismanhood，turnedtoMr。Sagittarius。
　　"IregretmorethanIcansaythatIshallbeobligednowtoobeymygrandmother’ssummons，"hesaidcourteously。"Supposewedeferthis——
　　thispleasantlittlediscussiontosomefutureoc——"
　　"Impossible，sir！"criedMr。Sagittarius。"Quiteimpossible。Youmustgettoworkto—night，andhowcanyoudoitwithoutyourdirections？"
　　"Oh，Icanmanageallright，"saidtheProphet，desperately。"Icangiveaguessasto——"
　　"/Nonsuntadastraemollibusaterrusviae/！"criedMadame。"TheroadfromBerkeleysquaretothestarsisnotsoeasy，isit，Jupiter？"
　　"Noindeed，mylove。Why——"
　　"Then，"exclaimedtheProphet，muchagitated，andfeelingitincumbentuponhimtogetridofMr。SagittariusatoncelestthecuriosityofLadyEnidshouldincreasebeyondallmeasure，andleadtoanencounterbetweenthetwoclientsofJellybrand’s，"thenkindlygivememydirectionsasbrieflyaspossible，and——"
　　Therewasanothertapuponthedoor。
　　"Whatisit？"criedtheProphet，distractedly，"Comein！"
　　Mr。Ferdinandre—enteredverydelicately。
　　"Herladyshipcanonlystayaminute，sir。Mrs。Merilliahopesyoucanleaveyourbusiness——Isaidasyouwasverybusy，sir——andcomeuptothedrawing—room。"
　　"Yes，yes。I’llcome。SayI’llcome，Mr。Ferdinand。"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　AsthedoorclosedtheProphetexclaimedexcitedly，——
　　"IfearIreallymust——"
　　"Takedownyourdirections，sir，"brokeinMr。Sagittarius，firmly。
　　"Verywell，"rejoinedtheProphet，desperately，seizinghispencilandtheaccount—book。"Whatarethey？"
　　"Yousweartofollowthem，sir？"
　　"Yes，yes，anything——anything！"
　　"Haveyouastarmap？"
　　"Yes——no！"
　　"Youmustgetone。"
　　"Verywell。"
　　"YouhadbetterdosoattheStores。"
　　Madamebreathedanalmostsensuoussighwhichcausedherhusbandtoglancetenderlytowardsher。
　　"Iknow，mylove，Iknow，"hesaid。"Itmaycomesomeday。"
　　"/Ofestumdies！Longaintervallam！/"shemurmured，shakingherbonnetwiththemannerofamartyrtoduty。
　　Mr。Sagittariuswasgreatlymoved。
　　"She’sasaint，"hewhisperedasidetotheProphet，asifimpartingsomenecessaryinformation。
　　"Certainly。Pleasegoon！"
　　Mr。Sagittariusstarted，asifsuddenlyrecalledtomundanematters。
　　"GetitattheStores，"hesaid。"Intheastronomicaldepartment。"
　　"Verywell。"
　　"Havingdoneso，andkeepingtheoldladyperpetuallyinyourmind，youwillplaceherintheclawsofthecrab——"
　　"What！"
　　"Mentally，sir，mentally，ofcourse。"
　　"Oh。"
　　"And，allowingforthenaturaleffectofthescorpionandserpentupononeofhervenerableage——"
　　"GoodHeavens！"
　　"Whencloseroundher，astheywillbe——butyouwillobservethatforyourself——"
　　TheProphetshuthiseyesasonewhorefusestobeholdsacrilege。
　　"Youwilltracethecycloidalcurveoftheplanets——canyoudothat？"
　　TheProphetnodded。
　　"Asitaffectsherbirthday，thetwentieth。Shouldthelynxbenearher——"
　　"No，no！"criedtheProphet。"Itshallnotbe！"
　　"Well，you’llhavetofindthatoutandkeepaneyetoit。Butshoulditbe，youwillcommittopaperwhatresultitspresenceislikelytoproducetoher，andworkthewholethingoutclearlyformyselfandMadameonpaper——inpropheticform，ofcourse——sothatwereceiveitby——whatpostshallIsay，mydear？"
　　"Firstpost，Jupiter。"
　　"Firstposton——whatdayisthetwentieth？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"repliedtheProphet，helplessly。
　　"AThursday，"saidMadame。"Capricornus’sdayforchronicsections。"
　　"Shealwaysknows，"saidMr。SagittariustotheProphet。
　　"Always。"
　　"Verywellthen，firstpostThursdaymorning。Nowisthatquiteclear？"
　　"Oh，quite，quite。"
　　"Youwillofcoursesendtheoldlady’shoroscopetousatthesametimewithfullparticulars。"
　　"Fullparticulars？"saidtheProphet。"Whatof？"
　　"Ofherremovalfromthebottle，cuttingofherfirsttooth，shortcoating，goingintoskirts，puttingofthehairup，dayofmarriageandwidowhood，illnesses——"
　　"Especiallytherashes，Jupiter，"struckinMadame。
　　"Whatamind！"saidMr。SagittariusasidetotheProphet。
　　"What！"
　　"EspeciallyasMadamesays，anyillnessestakingtheformofarash——
　　theepidemicform，asImaysay——andsoforth。WearetoreceivethisdocumentbythefirstpostThursdaymorning。"
　　"Haveyoudottedallthatdown，Mr。Vivian？"inquiredMadame。
　　TheProphethastilymadealargevarietyofscratcheswiththeleadpencil。
　　"Andnow，"continuedMr。Sagittarius。
　　Therewasathirdtapatthedoor。
　　"Comein，"criedtheProphet，distractedly，andfeelingasifhomicidalmaniawererapidlycreepinguponhim。
　　Mr。Ferdinandappearedoncemore，withamouthlikeapurse。
　　"Herladyshipsaysshereallymustgoinamoment，sir，and——andMrs。
　　Merilliabegsthat——"
　　"Iamcomingatonce，Mr。Ferdinand。Iswearit。GoupstairsandswearIswearit。"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　Mr。Ferdinanddeparted，ratherwiththedemeanourofanarchbishopwhohasbeeninveigledintopledginghimself，onhisarchiepiscopaloath，tocommitsomehorridcrime。TheProphetturned，almostviolently，towardshisguests。
　　"Imustgo，"hecried。"Imustindeed。Prayforgiveme。YouseehowI
　　amcircumstanced。Permitmetoshowyoutothedoor。"
　　"Youswear，sir，tocarryoutallourdirectionsandtodotdown——"
　　"Ido。Iswearsolemnlytodotdown——ifyouwillonly——thisway。Takecareofthemat。"
　　"Wetrustyou，Mr。Vivian，"saidMadame，withmajesticpathos。"Awife，amothertrustsyou。/Placensuxus！Materfamiliaris/。"
　　"Ipledgemyhonour。Thisisthe——no，no，notthatway，notthatway！"
　　Theworthycouple，bymistake，nodoubt，wereproceedingtowardsthegrandstaircase，havingmissedthewaytothehalldoor，andastheProphet，followingthemupwithalmostunimaginableactivity，drewnearenoughtodrumtherightdirectionintotheirbacks，LadyEnidbecamevisibleonthelandingabove。Mr。Sagittariusperceivedher。
　　"Why，it’sMissMinerv——"hebegan。
　　"Thisway，thisway！"criedtheProphet，wheelingthemroundanddrivingthem，butalwayslikeathoroughgentleman，towardsthesquare。
　　"Thensheleadsadoublelife，too！"saidMr。Sagittarius，solemnly，fixinghisstrainedeyesupontheProphet。
　　"She？Who？"saidMadame，sharply。
　　ShehadnotseenLadyEnid。
　　"Allofus，mylove，allofus，"returnedherhusband，astheProphetsucceededinshepherdingthemontothepavement。
　　"Good—bye，"hecried。
　　Withalmostinconceivablerapidityheshutthedoor。Ashedidsotwovagueechoesseemedtofaintonhisear。Onewasmale，adreamlike——
　　"Firstpost，Thursday！"Theotherwasfemale，afairylike——"/Jactumaleasunt/。"
　　CHAPTERIX
　　THEPROPHETBEGINSTOCARRYOUTHISDIRECTIONS
　　"Mr。Ferdinand，"saidtheProphetthesameevening，afterhehaddressedfordinner，"whathasbecomeofthetelescope？"
　　Hespokeinalowvoice，notunlikethatofaconfirmedconspirator，andglancedratherfurtivelyaroundhim，asifafraidofbeingoverheard。
　　"Ihaveremovedit，sir，accordingtoyourorders，"repliedMr。
　　Ferdinand，alsodisplayingsomeuneasiness。
　　"Yes，yes。Wherehaveyouplacedit？"
　　"Well，sir，IunderstoodyoutosayImightthrowitinPiccadilly，ifIsowished。"
　　TheProphetsuddenlydisplayedrelief。
　　"Isee。Youhavedoneso。"
　　"Well，no，sir。"
　　TheProphet’sfacefell。
　　"Thenwhereisit？"
　　"Well，sir，forthemomentIhavesetitinthebutler’spantry。"
　　"Indeed！"
　　"Ithoughtitmightbeofusethere，sir，"continuedMr。Ferdinand，insomeconfusion，which，however，wasnotnoticedbytheProphet。"Ofgreatuseto——toGustavusandmein——inourduties，sir。"
　　"Quiteso，quiteso，"returnedtheProphet，abstractedly。
　　"Didyouwishittobetakentothedrawing—roomagain，sir？"
　　TheProphetstarted。
　　"Certainlynot，"hesaid。"Onnoaccount。Asyouveryrightlysay——abutler’spantryistheplaceforatelescope。Itcanbeofgreatservicethere。"
　　HisfervoursurprisedMr。Ferdinand，whobegantowonderwhether，byanychance，hismasterknewoftheLordChancellor’sagreeable—lookingsecond—cook。Afterpausingamomentrespectfully，Mr。FerdinandwasabouttodecampwhentheProphetcheckedhimwithagesture。
　　"Onemoment，Mr。Ferdinand！"
　　"Sir？"
　　"Onemoment！"
　　Mr。Ferdinandstoodstill。TheProphetclearedhisthroat，arrangedhistie，andthensaid，withanairofveryelaboratenonchalance，——
　　"Atwhattimedoyougenerallygotobed，Mr。Ferdinand，whenyoudon’tsitup？"
　　"Sometimesatonetime，sir，andsometimesatanother。"
　　"That’sratherambiguous。"
　　"Ibegpardon，sir。"
　　"Whatisyourusualhourforbeingquite——thatis，entirelyinbed。"
　　"Entirelyinbed，sir？"
　　Mr。Ferdinand’sfinebassvoicevibratedwithsurprise。
　　"Yes。Notpartiallyinbed，butreallyandtrulyinbed？"
　　"Well，sir，"returnedMr。Ferdinand，withdecideddignity，"whenIaminbed，sir，Iam。"
　　"Andwhen’sthat？"
　　"Bytwelve，sir。"
　　"Ithoughtasmuch，"criedtheProphet，withslightlytheatricalsolicitude。"Yousituptoolate，Mr。Ferdinand。"
　　"Ihope，sir，thatI——"
　　"That’swhatmakesyousopale，Mr。Ferdinand，anddelicate。"
　　"Delicate，sir！"criedMr。Ferdinand，whohadinfactbeenhopelesslyrobustfromthecradle，totallyincapableofacquiringeventhemostuniversalcomplaints，and，moreover，miraculouslyexemptfromthatwell—recognisedafflictionofthemembersofhisprofessionsowidelyknownas"butler’sfeet。"
　　"Yes，"saidtheProphet，emphatically。"Youshouldbeinbed，thoroughlyinbed，byaquartertoeleven。AndGustavustoo！Heisyoung，andtheyoungcan’tbetoocareful。Beginto—night，Mr。
　　Ferdinand。Ispeakforyourhealth’ssake，believeme。"
　　SosayingtheProphethurriedaway，leavingMr。FerdinandalmostasfirmlyrootedtotheTurkeycarpetwithsurpriseasifhehadbeenwovenintothepatternatbirth，andneverunpickedinlateryears。
　　AttenthateveningtheProphet，havingescapedearlyfromhisdinneronsomeextravagantpleaofsuddenillnessorsecondgaiety，stoodinthesmallandsoberpassageofthecelebratedTintackClubandinquiredanxiouslyforMr。RobertGreen。
　　"Yes，sir。Mr。Greenisupstairsinthesmoke—room，"saidthefunctionarywhomtheclubgrewunderglassforthebenefitofthemembersandtheirfriends。
　　"Sam，showthisgentlemantoMr。Green。"
　　Sam，whowasared—facedchildinbuttons，withaman’swalkandthebackofonewhoknewasmuchasmostpeople，obeyedthiscommand，andusheredtheProphetintoaroomwithasealing—waxredpaper，inwhichRobertGreenwassittingalone，smokingalargecigarandglancingatthe"stony—brokeedition"ofaneveningpaper。HegreetedtheProphetwithhisusualunaffectedcordiality，offeredhimeverydrinkthathadyetbeeninvented，and，onhisrefusalofthemall，handedhimacigarandamatchbox，andwhistled"Ta—ra—ra—boom—de—av"athiminthemostfriendlymannerpossible。
　　"Bob，"saidtheProphet，takingaverylongtimetolightthecigar，"what，inyouropinion，istheexactmeaningofthetermhonour？"
　　Mr。Green’scheerful，thoughslightlybelated，faceassumedanexpressionofgenialbetwaddlement。
　　"Oh，well，Hen，"hesaid，"exactmeaningyouknow’snotsoeasy。But——
　　hangit，weallunderstandthething，eh，withoutstickingitdowninwords。What？"
　　"Idon’t，Bob，"rejoinedtheProphet，inthetoneofamanatoddswithseveralconsciences。"Inwhatdirectiondoeshonourlie？"
　　"Itdon’tlieatall，oldchap，"saidMr。Green，withthedecidedmannerwhichhadmadehimsouniversallyesteemedinyeomanrycircles。
　　TheProphetbegantolookverymuchdistressed。
　　"Lookhere，Bob，I’llputitinthisway，"hesaid。"Wouldanhonourablemanfeelboundtokeepapromise？"
　　"Rather。"
　　"Yes，butwouldhefeelboundtokeeptwopromises？"
　　"Rather，ifhe’dmade’em。"
　　"Supposehehad！"
　　"Goahead，Hen，I’msupposing，"saidMr。Green，beginningtopuckerhisbrowsandstareveryhardindeedintheendeavourtokeepthesuppositionfixedfirmlyinhishead。
　　"And，further，supposethatthesetwopromiseswerediametricallyopposedtooneanother。"
　　Mr。Greenstuckoutoneleg，lookedobliquelyatthecarpet，pressedhislipstogetherandnodded。
　　"Sothatifhefulfilledthembothhe’dhavetobreakthemboth——"
　　"Stopasec！Gad，I’velostit！Startagain，Hen！"
　　"No，Imeansothatifhedidn’tbreakonehewouldbeforcedtobreaktheother。Haveyougotthat？"
　　"Stopabit！Don’tbelieveIhave。Let’ssee！"
　　Hemovedhislipssilently，repeatingtheProphet’swords。
　　"Yes。I’vegotthatallrightnow，"hesaid，afterthreeminutesofstrenuousmentalexertion。
　　"Well，whatwouldyousayofhim？"
　　"Thathewasadamnedfool。"
　　TheProphetlookedverymuchupset。
　　"No，no，Bob，Imeanttohim。Whatwouldyousaytohim？"
　　"Thathewasadamnedfool。"
　　TheProphetbegantoappearthoroughlybrokendown。However，hestillstucktohisinterpellation。
　　"Verywell，Bob，"hesaid，withunutterableresignation——asofatoadbeneaththeharrow——"but，puttingallthataside——"
　　"Giveusachance，Hen！I’vegottoshuntallthat，haveI？"
　　"Yes，atleastallyouwouldsayof，andto，theman。"
　　"Oh，onlythat。Waitabit！Yes，I’vedonethat。Driveonnow！"
　　"Puttingallthataside，whatshouldyouadvisethemantodo？"
　　"Nottobesuchadamnedfoolagain。"
　　"No，no！Imeanaboutthetwopromises？"
　　"Whatabout’em？"
　　"Whichwouldhissenseofhonourcompelhimtokeep？"
　　"Ishouldn’tthinksuchadamnedfool’dgotasenseofhonour。"
　　TheProphetwinced，buthestuckwithfeverishobstinacytohispoint。
　　"Yes，Bob，hehad。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveit，Hen，’ponmywordIdon’t。You’llalwaysfindthatdamnedf——"
　　"Bob，Imustbegyoutotakeitfromme。Hehad。Nowwhichpromiseshouldhekeep？"
　　"Who’dhemade’emto？"
　　"Who？"saidtheProphet，wavering。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Oneto——toaverynearanddearrelative，theotherto——well，Bobtotwocomparativestrangers。"
　　"Whatsortofstrangers。"
　　"Thesortofstrangerswho——wholivebesideariver，andwho——whomixprincipallywith——well，infact，witharchitectsandtheirwives。"
　　"Rumsortofstrangers？"
　　"Theyaredecidedly。"
　　"Oh，then，youknow’em？"
　　"That’snotthepoint，"exclaimedtheProphet，hastily。"Thepointiswhichpromiseistobekept。"
　　"Ishouldsaytheonemadetotherelative。Waitabit，though！Yes，I
　　shouldsaythat。"
　　TheProphetbreathedasighofrelief。Butsomedreadfulsenseofhonestywithinhimcompelledhimtoadd，——
　　"Iforgottosaythathe’dpledgedhishonourtothearchitects——thatis，tothestrangerswholivedbesideariver。"
　　"What——andnotpledgedittotherelative？"
　　"Well，no。"
　　"Thenheoughttosticktothepromisehe’dpledgedhishonourover，ofcourse。Nicefortherelative！Theman’sadamnedfool，Hen。Dohaveadrink，oldchap。"
　　ThusdidMr。RobertGreendrivetheProphettotakethefirstdecisivestepthatwastoleadtosomanycomplications，——thesteptowardsMr。
　　Ferdinand’spantry。
　　Atpreciselyaquartertoelevenp。m。theProphetstooduponhisdoorstepand，verygentlyindeed，insertedhislatchkeyintothedoor。
　　Ashadedlampwasburninginthedesertedhall，whereprofoundsilencereigned。Clearwasthenightandstarry。AstheProphetturnedtoclosethedoorheperceivedthebusycrab，andthethoughtofhisbelovedgrandmother，sinkingnowtorestonthesecondfloorallunconsciousofthepropinquityofthescorpion，thecontiguityoftheserpent，filledhisexpressiveeyeswithtears。Heshutthedoor，stoodinthehallandlistened。Heheardachaircrack，thetickingofaclock。Therewasnoothersound，andhefeltcertainthatMr。FerdinandandGustavushadheededhisanxiousmedicaldirectionsandgoneentirelytobedbetimes，leavingthebutler’spantryfreeforthenocturnaloperationsofthevictimofMadame。ForherecognisedthatshewastheguidingspiritofthefamilythatdweltbesidetheMouse。HemighthaveescapedoutofthesnareofMr。Sagittarius，butMadamewasafowlerwhowouldholdhimfasttillshehadsatisfiedherselfonceandforallwhetheritwereindeedpossibletodwellinthecentraldistricts，withinreachoftheArmyandNavyheaveninVictoriaStreet，andyetremainaprophet。
　　Yes，hemustnowworkfortheinformationofherambitioussoul。Hesigheddeeplyandwentsoftlyupthestairs。HischamberwasonthesamefloorasMrs。Merillia’s，and，ashenearedherdoor，heroseinstinctivelyuponhistoesand，graspingthetailsofhiseveningcoatfirmlywithhislefthand，topreventanychancerustlingoftheirsatinlining，andbearinghisGeorgetheThirdsilvercandlesticksteadilytocontrolanyclatteringofitsextinguisher，hemovedonratherlikeathiefwhowasalsoatrainedballerina，holdinghisbreathandpressinghislipstogetherinasupremeagonyofdumbness。
　　Unluckilyhetrippedintheraisedpatternofthecarpet，thecandlestickutteredasilvernote，hispent—inbreathescapedwithaloudgulp，andMrs。Merillia’sdelicatevoicecriedoutfrombehindhershutdoor，——
　　"Hennessey！Hennessey！"
　　TheProphetbithislipandwentatonceintoherroom。
　　Mrs。Merillialookedsimplycharminginbed，withherlongandelegantheadshadedbyabeautifulmuslinhelmettrimmedwithlace，andadeliciousembroideredwrapperroundhershoulders。TheProphetstoodbesideher，shadingthecandle—flamewithhishand。
　　"Well，grannie，dear，"hesaid，"whatisit？Yououghttobeasleep。"
　　"Ineversleepbeforetwelve。Haveyouhadapleasantdinner？"
　　"Very。StanyerPhelps，theAmerican，wasthereandverywitty。Andwehadamarvellous/supremedevolaille/。Everybodyaskedafteryou。"
　　Mrs。Merillianodded，likeanaccustomedqueenwhoreceivesherdue。
　　SheknewverywellthatshewasthemostpopularoldwomaninLondon，knewittoowelltothinkaboutit。
　　"Well，good—night，grannie。"
　　TheProphetbenttokissher，hisheartfilledwithcompunctionatthethoughtofthepromisehewasabouttobreak。ItseemedtohimalmostmorethansacrilegioustomakeofthisdearandhonouredornamentofoldageavehicleforthesatisfactionofthevulgarambitionsanddisagreeablecuriosityofthecouplewhodweltbesidetheMouse。
　　"Good—night，mydearboy。"
　　Shekissedhim，thenadded，——
　　"YoulikeLadyEnid，don’tyou？"
　　"Verymuch。"
　　"SodoesRobertGreen。Hethinkshersuchathoroughlysensiblegirl。"
　　"Bob！Doeshe？"saidtheProphet，concealingaslightsmile。
　　"Yes。Ifyouwanthertogetonwithyou，Hennessey，youshouldcomeuptoteawhensheishere。"
　　"Icouldn’tto—day，grannie。"
　　"Youwerereallybusy？"
　　"Verybusyindeed。"
　　"Isupposeyouonlysawherforamomentonthestairs？"
　　"Thatwasall。"
　　Itwastrue，forLadyEnidhadscarcelystayedtospeaktotheProphet，havinghurriedoutinthehopeofdiscoveringwhowerethe"twoparties"hehadbeenentertainingonthegroundfloor。
　　Mrs。Merilliadroppedthesubject。
　　"Good—night，Hennessey，"shesaid。"Gotobedatonce。Youlookquitetired。Iamsothankfulyouhavegivenupthathorribleastronomy。"
　　TheProphetdidnotreply，but，ashewentoutoftheroom，heknew，forthefirsttime，whatcriminalswithconsciencesfeellikewhentheyareengagedinfollowingtheirdreadprofession。
　　Ashewalkedacrossthelandingheheardaclockstrikeeleven。Hestarted，hastenedintohisroom，toreoffhiscoat，replaceditwithaquiltedsmoking—jacket，spranglightlytohistable，seizedaplanisphere，orstar—map，whichhehadsucceededinobtainingthatnightfromasmallworkingastronomer’sshopintheEdgewareRoad，and，mindfulofthetermsofhisoathandthedecidedopinionofRobertGreen，scurriedhastily，butverygingerly，downthestairs。ThistimeMrs。Merilliadidnothearhim。Shehadindeedbecomeabsorbedinanewromance，writtenbyaveryrisingyoungMontenegrinwhowasjustthenmakingsomestirintheliterarycirclesoftheelect。
　　VerysurreptitiouslytheProphettrippedacrossthehallandreachedthestoutdoorwhichgaveaccesstotheservants’quarters。Butherehepaused。AlthoughhehadlivedinMrs。Merillia’smostcomfortablehomeforatleastfifteenyears，hehadactuallyneveroncepenetratedbeyondthisdoor。Ithadneveroccurredtohimtodoso。Oftenhehadapproachedit。Quiterecently，whenMrs。FancyQuinglethadbrokenintotearsontherefusalofSirTiglathButttoburstaccordingtoherprediction，hehadhandedhertothisveryportal。Buthehadneverpassedthroughit，nordidheknowwhatlaybeyond。Nodoubttherewasakitchen，veryprobablythemysteriousregionofwateryactivitiescommonlyknownasascullery，quitecertainlyabutler’spantry。Butwhereeachseparatesanctumlay，andwhatshouldbethephysiognomyofeachonetheProphethadnotthevaguestidea。AsheturnedthehandleofthedoorhefeltlikeSirHenryStanley，whenthatintrepidexplorerfirstsetfootamongtheleafyhabitationsofthedwarfs。