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The Prophet of Berkeley Square
by Robert Hichens
CHAPTER I
MRS。 MERILLIA IS CARRIED TO BED
The great telescope of the Prophet was carefully adjusted upon its
lofty； brass…bound stand in the bow window of Number One Thousand
Berkeley Square。 It pointed towards the remarkably bright stars which
twinkled in the December sky over frosty London； those guardian stars
which always seemed to the Prophet to watch with peculiar solicitude
over the most respectable neighbourhood in which he resided。 The
polestar had its eye even now upon the mansion of an adjacent ex…
premier； the belt of Orion was not oblivious of a belted earl's cosy
red…brick home just opposite； and the house of a certain famous actor
and actress close by had been taken by the Great Bear under its special
protection。
The Prophet's butler； Mr。 Ferdinandthat bulky and veracious gentleman
threw open the latticed windows of the drawing…room and let the cold
air rush blithely in。 Then he made up the fire carefully； placed a copy
of Mr。 Malkiel's /Almanac/； bound in dull pink and silver brocade by
Miss Clorinda Dolbrett of the Cromwell Road； upon a small tulip…wood
table near the telescope； patted a sofa cushion affectionately on the
head； glanced around with the meditative eye of the butler born not
made； and quitted the comfortable apartment with a salaried； but soft；
footstep。
It was a pleasant chamber； this drawing…room of Number One Thousand。 It
spoke respectfully of the generations that were past and seemed
serenely certain of a comfortable future。 There was no too modern
uneasiness about it； no trifling； gim…crack furniture constructed to
catch the eye and the angles of any one venturing to seek repose upon
it； no unmeaning rubbish of ornaments or hectic flummery of second…rate
pictures。 Above the high oaken mantel…piece was a little pure bust in
marble of the Prophet when a small boy。 To right and left were pretty
miniatures in golden frames of the Prophet's delightfully numerous
grandmothers。 Here might be seen Mrs。 Prothero； the great ship…
builder's faithful wife； in blue brocade； and Lady Camptown； who
reigned at Bath； in grey tabinet and diamond buckles； when Miss Jane
Austen was writing her first romance； Mrs。 Susan Burlington； who knew
Lord Byrona remarkable factand Lady Sophia Green； who knew her own
mind； a fact still more remarkable。 The last…named lady wore black with
a Roman nose； and the combination was admirably convincing。 Here might
also be observed Mrs。 Stuefitt； Mistress of the Mazurka； and the Lady
Jane Follington； of whom George the Second had spoken openly in terms
of approbation。 She affected plum colour and had eyes like sloesthe
fashionable hue in the neat…foot…and…pretty…ankle period。 The flames of
the fire twinkled brightly over this battalion of deuced fine women；
who were all； without one exception； the grandmothersin various
degreesof the Prophet。 When speaking of them； in the highest terms；
he never differentiated them by the adjectives great； or great…great。
They were all kind and condescending enough to be his grandmothers。 For
a man of his sensitive； delicate and grateful disposition this was
enough。 He thought them all quite perfect； and took them all under the
protection of his soft and beaming eyes。
Of Mrs。 Merillia； the live grandmother with whom he had the great
felicity to dwell in Berkeley Square； he seldom said anything in public
praise。 The incense he offered at her shrine rose； most sweetly
perfumed； from his daily life。 The hearth of this agreeable and
grandmotherly chamber was attractive with dogs； the silver cage beside
it with green love…birds。 Upon the floor was a heavy； dull…blue carpet
over whichas has been intimatedeven a butler so heavy as Mr。
Ferdinand could go softly。 The walls were dressed with a dull blue
paper that looked like velvet。
Here and there upon them hung a picture： a landscape of George Morland；
lustily English； a Cotman； a Cuypcows in twilighta Reynolds； faded
but exquisitely genteel。 A lovely little harpsichordmeditating on
Scarlattistood in one angle； a harp； tied with most delicate ribands
of ivory satin powdered with pimpernels； in another。 Many waxen candles
shed a tender and unostentatious radiance above their careful grease…
catchers。 Upon pretty tables lay neat books by Fanny Burney； Beatrice
Harraden； Mary Wilkins； and Max Beerbohm； also the poems of Lord Byron
and of Lord de Tabley。 Near the hearth was a sofa on which an emperor
might have laid an easy head that wore a crown； and before every low
and seductive chair was set a low and seductive footstool。
A grandmother's clock pronounced the hour of ten in a frail and elegant
voice as the finely…carved oak door was opened； and the Prophet
seriously entered this peaceful room； carrying a copy of the
/Meditations of Marcus Aurelius/ in his hand。
He was a neatly…made little man of fashionable； even of modish； cut；
spare； smart and whimsical； with a clean…shaved； small…featured face；
large； shining brown eyes； abundant and slightly…waving brown hair；
that could only be parted； with the sweetest sorrow； in the centre of
his well…shaped； almost philosophical head； and movements light and
temperate as those of a meditative squirrel。 Having just dined he was
naturally in evening dress； with a butterfly tie； gleaming pumps； and a
buttonhole of violets。 He shut the door gently； glanced at his nice…
looking grandmothers； and； walking forward very quietly and demurely；
applied his eye to the telescope； lowering himself slightly by a Sandow
exercise； which he had practised before he became a prophet。 Having
remained in this position of astronomical observation for some minutes；
he deviated into the upright； closed the window； and tinkled a small
silver bell that stood on the tulip…wood table beside Malkiel's
/Almanac/。
Mr。 Ferdinand appeared； looking respectfully buoyant。
〃Has Mr。 Malkiel sent any reply to my inquiry； Mr。 Ferdinand？〃 asked
the Prophet。
〃He has not； sir；〃 replied Mr。 Ferdinand； sympathetically。
〃Did the boy messenger say he delivered my note？〃
〃He said so； sir； on his Bible oath； sir。〃
〃And do you believe him？〃
〃Oh； sir！〃 responded Mr。 Ferdinand； in a shocked voice； 〃surely a
London lad would not be found to tell a lie！〃
〃I hope not； Mr。 Ferdinand。 Stilldid he look a nervous sort of lad？〃
〃He was a trifle pale； sir； about the gillsbut a heart of gold； sir；
I feel sure。 He wore four medals； sir。〃
〃Four medals！ Nevertheless； he may have been frightened to go to Mr。
Malkiel's door。 That will do； Mr。 Ferdinand。〃
Mr。 Ferdinand was about to bow and retire when the Prophet； after a
moment of hesitation； added；
〃Stay； Mr。 Ferdinand。 Mrs。 Merillia has gone to the Gaiety Theatre
to…night。 I expect her back at half…past eleven。 She may need
assistance on her return。〃
〃Assistance； sir！ Mrs。 Merillia； sir！〃
Mr。 Ferdinand's luminous eyes shone with amazement。
〃She mayI say she /may/have to be carried to bed。〃
Mr。 Ferdinand's jaw dropped。 He gave at the knees and was obliged to
cling to a Chippendale cabinet for support。
〃Have an armchair ready in the hall in case of necessity and tell
Gustavus to sit up。 Mrs。 Merillia must not be dropped。 You understand。
That will do； Mr。 Ferdinand。〃
Mr。 Ferdinand endeavoured to bow； and ultimately succeeded in retiring。
When his tremulous shoulders were no longer visible； the Prophet opened
Marcus Aurelius； and； seating himself in a corner of the big couch by
the fire； crossed his legs one over the other and began to read that
timid Ancient's consolatory； but unconvincing； remarks。 Occasionally he
paused； however； murmured doubtfully； 〃Will she have to be carried to
bed？〃 shook his head mournfully and then resumed his reading。
While he thus employs his time； we must say a word or two about him。
Mr。 Hennessey Vivian was now a man of thirty…eight； of excellent
fortune； of fine connections； and of admirable disposition。 He had
become an orphan as soon as it was in his power to do so； having lost
his fatherCaptain Vivian of Her Majesty's Tenth Lancerssome months
before； and his motherwho had been a Merillia of Chipping Sudburya
few minutes after his birth。 In these unfortunate circumstances； over
which he； poor infant； had absolutely no controlwhatever unkind
people might say！he devolved upon his mother's mother； the handsome
and popular Mrs。 Merillia； who assumed his charge with the rosy
alacrity characteristic of her in all her undertakings。 With her the
little Hennessey had passed his infantine years； blowing happy bubbles；
presiding over the voyages of his own private Noahfrom the Army and
Navy Stores； with two hundred animals of both sexes！eating pap
prepared by Mrs。 Merillia's own /chef/； and sleeping in a cot hung with
sunny silk that might have curtained Venus or have shaken ab