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considerably like Joan of Arc and other well…known heroines。 〃My duty
lies plain before me。 Of myself I should not have selected the
Zoological Gardens and the butler's pantry of a comparative stranger as
places in which to pass the night； even when accompanied by my husband。
But my conscience/mens conscium recto/guides me and I will not
resist it。 I will assume my /neglige/ and bonnet and will be with you
in a moment。〃
So saying she majestically quitted the apartment。
The Prophet fell down upon the maroon sofa like a man smitten with
paralysis。 He felt suddenly old； and very weak。 He tried to think； to
consider how he could explain Madame Sagittarius to his grandmother
for she must surely now become aware of the presence of strangers in
her pretty homehow he could arrange matters with Mr。 Ferdinand； how
he could apologise to a lady whom he had never yet seen for appearing
at her house with two uninvited guests； how he could get rid of the
Sagittariuses when the horrible night watch should be at an end and the
frigid winter dawn be near。 But his mind refused to work。 His brain was
a blank； containing nothing except； perhaps； a vague desire for sudden
death。 Mr。 Sagittarius did not disturb his contemplation of the
inevitable。 Indeed； that gentleman also seemed meditative； and the
silence lasted until the reappearance of Madame； in a brown robeof a
slightly tea…gown typetrimmed with green chiffon and coffee…coloured
lace； a black bonnet adorned with about a score of imitation plums made
in some highly…glazed material； a heavy cloak lined with priceless
rabbit…skins； and the outdoor boots。
If the Prophet had found the journey to the Mouse a painful experience；
what can be said of his feelings during the journey from that noble
stream？ Long afterwards he recalled his state of mind during the tramp
across the Common among the broken crockery； the dust…heaps； the
decaying vegetables and the occasional lurking rats； the journey in the
train； the reembarkment upon the purple 'bus from the gentle eminence
sloping towards the coal…yard； the long pilgrimage towards the central
districts with his very outlying companions。 He recalled the peculiar
numbness that strove against the desperation of his thoughts； his
feeble efforts to lay plans frustrated by a perpetual buzzing in his
brain； his flitting visions of that gentle grandmother round whose
venerable age and dignity he was about to group such peculiar
personalities； and beneath whose roof he was about to indulge in such
unholy prophetic practices。 Long afterwardsbut even then he could not
smile as men so often smile when they look back on lost despairs！
He and his companions spoke but little together as they journeyed。
Occasionally Madame and Mr。 Sagittarius conversed in husky whispers；
like brigands the Prophet thought； and the veiled click of Madame's
contralto struck through the startled air。 But mostly a silence
prevaileda silence alive with fate。
At the corner of Air Street they got out and began to walk down
Piccadilly towards the Berkeley square。 It was now evening。 The lamps
were lighted and the murmur of strolling crowds filled the gloomy air。
Madame stared feverishly about her； excited by the press； the flashing
hansoms and the gaily…illuminated shops。 Once； as she passed Benoist's；
she murmured 〃/O festum dies/！〃 and again； by the Berkeley； when she
was momentarily jostled by a very large and umbrageous tramp who had
apparently been celebrating the joys of beggary〃/Acto profanus
vulgam/！〃 But generally she was silent； enwrapped； no doubt； in bookish
thought。 When； at length； they stood before the door of number one
thousand she breathed a heavy sigh。
〃Please；〃 said the Prophet； in a trembling voice； 〃please enter
quietly。 My grandmother is very unwell。〃
〃Ankles seems to be a very painful complaint； sir；〃 said Mr。
Sagittarius。 〃But Madame and self are not in the habit of creating
uproar by our movements。〃
〃No； no。 Of course not。 Stillon tiptoe if you don't mind。〃
〃I cannot walk on tiptoe；〃 said Madame； in a voice that sounded to the
Prophet terrifically powerful。 〃The attitude is precarious and
undignified。 As the great Juvenile〃
〃Yes； yes。 Ah！ that's it！〃
He managed to get his key into the door and very gingerly opened it。
Madame and Mr。 Sagittarius stepped into the hall； followed closely by
the Prophet； who was content on conveying them unobserved to the
library。
〃This way；〃 he whispered。 〃This way。 Softly！ Softly！〃
He began to steal； like a shadow； across the hall； and； impressed by
his surreptitious manner； his old and valued friends instinctively
followed his example。 All three of them； then； with long steps and
theatrical pauses； were stagily upon the move； when suddenly the door
that led to the servants' quarters swung open and Mrs。 Fancy Quinglet
debouched into their midst； succeeded by Mr。 Ferdinand； who carried in
his hand a menu card in a silver holder。 At the moment of their
appearance the Prophet； holding his finger to his lips； was taking a
soft and secret stride in the direction of the library door； his body
bent forward and his head protruded towards the sanctum he longed to
gain； and Madame and Mr。 Sagittarius； true to the instinct of imitation
that dwells in our monkey race； were in precisely similar attitudes
behind him。 The hall being rather dark； and the gait of the trio it
contained thus tragically surreptitious； it was perhaps not unnatural
that Mrs。 Fancy should give vent to a piercing cry of terror； and that
Mr。 Ferdinand should drop the menu and crouch back against the wall in
a hunched position expressive of alarm。 At any rate； such were their
actions； whilefor their partthe Prophet and his two old and valued
friends uttered a united exclamation and struck three attitudes that
were pregnant with defensive amazement。
Having uttered herself； Mrs。 Fancy； according to her invariable custom
when completely terrified； displayed all the semblance of clear…sighted
composure and explanatory discrimination。 While Mr。 Ferdinand remained
by the wall； with his face to it and his large white hands spread out
upon his shut eyes； the lady's maid advanced upon Madame； and；
addressing herself apparently to some hidden universe in need of
information； remarked in rather a piecing voice；
〃I say again； as I said afore； the house has been broke into and the
robbers are upon us。 I can't speak different nor mean other。〃
On hearing these words Madame's large and rippling countenance became
suffused with indignant scarlet； and a preliminary click rang through
the hall。 The Prophet bounded forward。
〃Hush； Fancy；〃 he cried。 〃What are you saying？〃
〃What I mean； Master Hennessey。 The house has been broke〃
〃Hush！ Hush！ This lady and gentleman are〃
〃Two old and valued friends〃 boomed Madame。
〃Two old and valued friends of mine。 Mr。 Ferdinand！ Mr。 Ferdinand； take
your face from the wall； if you please。 There is no cause for alarm。
Now； Fancynow！〃
For Mrs。 Fancy had； as usual； broken into tears on learning the
reassuring truth； and was now displaying every symptom of distress and
enervation。 The Prophet； unable to calm her； was obliged to assist her
upstairs and place her upon the landing； where he hurriedly left her
uttering broken moans and murmurs； and repeating again and again her
statement of affairs and assertion of inability to conceal the revealed
obvious。 On his return he found Madame； Mr。 Sagittarius and Mr。
Ferdinand grouped statuesquely in the hall as if to represent
〃Perturbation。〃
〃Mr。 Ferdinand；〃 he said rather severely； 〃I did not expect this
conduct of you； shrinking from guests in this extraordinary manner。 A
butler who shows terror at the sight of visitors does not conduce to
the popularity of his employers。〃
〃I beg pardon； sir。 I was not prepared。〃
〃Please be prepared another time。 You will serve dinner for three
to…night； very quietly； in the inner dining…room。 I do not wish Mrs。
Merillia to be disturbed in her illness； and〃
〃If you please； sir； Mrs。 Merillia feels herself so much better that
she is coming down to dinner to…night。〃
〃Coming down to dinner！〃 said the Prophet； aghast。
〃Yes； sir。 And she has asked in Sir Tiglath Butt and the Lady Julia
Postlethwaite to join her。 I was about to show Mrs。 Merillia the menu；
sir； when〃
〃Good Heavens！ Merciful Powers！〃 ejaculated the Prophet。
〃Sir？〃
〃What on earth is to be done？〃 continued the Prophet； lost for the
moment to all sense of propriety。
Mr。 Ferdinand looked at the old and valued friends。
〃I can't say； sir； I'm sure；〃 he replied； pursing up his lips。
〃What is the meaning〃 began Mr。 Sagittarius。
〃I'm not aware that〃 started Madame。
The Prophet darted to the library door and opened it。
〃Pray； pray come in here；〃 he hissed。 〃My grandmother！ Softly！〃
〃