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cook。 Even Gustavus； they tell me； is trying to snatch a little uneasy
repose on his what…not。 It has been a terrible day。〃
Mrs。 Merillia lay back and closed her eyes； and the Prophet；
overwhelmed with remorse； retired to his room； lay down and stared
desperately at nothing for half an hour。 He then ate； with a very poor
appetite； a morsel of dinner and prepared to take； if possible； a short
nap before starting on the labours of the night。 As he got up from the
dining table to go upstairs he said to Mr。 Ferdinand；
〃By the way； Mr。 Ferdinand； if I should come into the pantry again to…
night； don't be alarmed。 I may chance to require a bradawl as I did
last night。 Kindly leave one out； in case I should。 But you need not
sit up。〃
As the Prophet said the last words he looked Mr。 Ferdinand full in the
face。 The butler's eyes fell。
〃Thank you； Master Hennessey； I shall be glad to get to bedentirely
to bedin good time。 We are all a bit upset in the kitthat is the
hall to…day。〃
〃Just so。 Retire to rest at once if you like。〃
〃Thank you； sir。〃
〃Gustavus；〃 said Mr。 Ferdinand； a moment later in the servants' hall；
〃you are a man of the world； I believe。〃
Gustavus roused himself on his what…not。
〃I am； Mr。 Ferdinand；〃 he replied； in a pale and exhausted manner。
〃Then tell me； Gustavus； have you ever lived in service with a
gentleman who was partial to a bradawlof a night； you understand？〃
〃No； never； Mr。 Ferdinand。 The nearest to it ever I got was the Bishop
of Clapham。〃
〃Explain yourself； Gustavus； I beg。〃
〃He used to ask for a nip sometimes before retiring； Mr。 Ferdinand。〃
〃A nip； Gustavus？〃
〃Warm water； with a slice of toast in it。 But he was only what they
call a suburban bishop； Mr。 Ferdinand。〃
〃Ah！ a nip is hardly on all fours with a bradawl； Gustavus。〃
〃P'r'aps not； Mr。 Ferdinand； but it's the nearest ever I got to it。〃
Mr。 Ferdinand said no more； but when he retired to rest that night he
double…locked his door； and dreamt of bradawls till he woke；
unrefreshed； the next morning to find the area full of telegrams。
Meanwhile the Prophet was conscientiously fulfilling his promise and
keeping the oath he had pledged his honour over； although he had to
work under a grave disadvantage in the total loss of his planisphere；
or star…map。
He entered the butler's pantry precisely on the stroke of eleven； and
found it； to his great relief； untenanted。 The dwarf was no longer at
the telescope； and the silence in the region dedicated to Mrs。
Merillia's menials was profound。 The night； too； was clear and starry；
propitious for prophetic labours； and as the Prophet gazed out upon the
deserted square through the open window a strange peace descended upon
his fevered soul。 Nature； with all her shining mysteries； her distant
reticences and revelations； calmed the turmoil within him。 He looked
upon the area railings and upon the sky； and smiled。
Then he looked for the star…map。 He perceived in a very prominent
position upon a silver salver； the bradawl laid out； according to
order； by the obedient Mr。 Ferdinand。 He perceived also the open pot of
〃Butler's Own Special Pomade；〃 but the planisphere had been removed
from it。 Where could it have been bestowed？ The Prophet instituted a
careful search。 He explored cupboards； drawerssuch at least as were
unlockedin vain。 He glanced into a silver teapot reposing on a shelf；
between the pages of an almanac hanging on the wall； among some back
numbers of the /Butler's Gazette/； which were lying in a corner。 But
the planisphere was nowhere to be found； and at last in despair he
resolved to do without it； and to trust to his fairly accurate
knowledge of the heavens。 He； therefore； took up his station by the
window and proceeded to extract from the pocket of his smoking…jacket
the account…book in which he had dotted down the directions of 〃Madame
and self。〃 They were very vague； for his dots had been agitated。 Still；
by the help of the George the Third candlestick； in which was a lighted
taper； the Prophet was able to make out enough to refresh his memory。
He was to begin by placing his beloved grandmother in the claws of the
crab。 Leaning upon the sill of the window he found the crab and
breathing a short prayer for forgivenesscommitted his dear relation
to its offices。 He then retreated and； assuming very much the position
of Mr。 Ferdinand； applied his right eye to the telescope； at the same
time holding his left eye firmly shut with the forefinger of his left
hand。 At once the majesty of the starry heavens burst upon him in all
its glory。
Exactly at half…past one o'clock； two hours and a half later； the
enthralled Prophet heard a low whistle which seemed to reach him from
the square。 He withdrew his fascinated right eye from the telescope and
endeavoured to use it in an ordinary manner； but he could at first see
nothing。 The low whistle was repeated。 It certainly did come from the
square； and the Prophet approached the open window and once more tried
to compel the eye that had looked so long upon the stars to gaze with
understanding upon the earth。 This time he perceived a black thing；
like a blot； about six feet high； beyond the area railings。 From this
blot came a third whistle。 The Prophet； who was still dazed by the
fascination of star…gazing； mechanically whistled in reply； whereupon
the blot whispered at him huskily；
〃At it again； are you？〃
〃Yes；〃 whispered the Prophet； also huskily； for the night air was cold。
〃But how should you know？〃
Indeed he wondered； and it seemed to him as if the blot were some
strange night thing that must have companioned him； invisibly； when he
kept his nocturnal watches in the drawing…room； and that now partially
revealed itself to him in the； perhaps； more acutely occult region of
the basement。
〃How should I know！〃 rejoined the blot with obvious； though very
hoarse； irony。 〃Whatever d'you take me for？〃
The Prophet began to wonder； but before he had gone on wondering for
more than about half a minute； the blot continued；
〃She's gone to bed。〃
〃I know she has；〃 said the Prophet； presuming that the blot； which
seemed instinct with all knowledge； was referring to his grandmother。
〃But she knows you're at it again；〃 continued the blot。
The Prophet started violently and leaned upon the window…sill。
〃No！ How can that be？〃 he ejaculated。
〃Ho！ Them girls knows everything； especially the old uns；〃 said the
blot； with an audible chuckle。
〃Good gracious！〃 gasped the Prophet； overwhelmed at this mysterious
visitant's familiar description of his revered grandmother。
〃Have you seen her to…night？〃 inquired the blot； controlling its
merriment。
〃Yes；〃 said the Prophet。 〃With the Crab。〃
〃What！〃 cried the blot； in obvious astonishment。 〃Them instruments must
be wonderful sight…carriers。〃
〃They are；〃 exclaimed the Prophet； with almost mystic enthusiasm。
〃Wonderful。 I have seen her with the Crab distinctly。〃
〃Ah！ well； I told her she ought to keep away from it；〃 continued the
blot。
〃Did you？〃 said the Prophet； with increasing surprise。 〃But how could
she？〃
〃Ah！ that's just it！ She couldn't。〃
〃No； of course not。〃
〃She was drawn right to it。〃
〃She was。 It wasn't her fault。 It was the Crab's。〃
〃A pity it was dressed。〃
〃What？〃
〃I say it's a pity 'twas dressed。〃
〃What was dressed？〃
〃What！ why； the Crab！〃
〃The Crabdressed！〃
〃Ay。 They're a deal safer not dressed。〃
〃Are they？〃
〃She knows it too。〃
〃Does she？〃
〃But therethem women likes a spice of danger。 She's in a nice state
now； you bet。 Not much sleep for her； I'll lay。 Well； I tried to keep
her from it； so you needn't blame me。〃
〃I won't；〃 said the Prophet； feeling completely dazed。
〃Well； go'…night。 I'm off round the square。〃
〃Good…night；〃 said the Prophet。
Suddenly a blinding flash of light dazzled his eyes。 He covered them
with his hands。 When he could see again the blot was gone。
Although he was retired to rest that night when the clock struck three；
the Prophet did not sleep。 His nervous system was in a condition of
acute excitement。 His brain felt like a burning ball； and the palms of
his hands were hot with fever。 For the spirit of prophecy was upon him
once more； and he was bound fast in the golden magic of the stars。 Like
the morphia maniac who； after valiant fasting； returning to his drug；
feels its influence the stronger for his abstinence from it； the
Prophet was conscious that the heavens held more power； more meaning
for him because； for a while； he had intended to neglect them。 He was
ravaged by their mystery； their majesty and revelation。
When he came down in the morning pale； dishevelled； but informed by a
curious dignity； he was met at once by Mr。 Ferdinand。