按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the Prophet to Mr。 Sagittarius； a quarter of an hour later。 〃Draw it in
at the back。〃
Mr。 Sagittarius； with shaking hands； drew in the waistcoat of Mr。
Ferdinand； which hung in folds around his thin and agitated figure。
〃That's better；〃 said the Prophet。 〃They won't notice anything odd。 But
you've turned up yourMr。 Ferdinand's trousers！〃
〃They're too long； sir。 You braced them too low for〃
〃I braced them low on purpose；〃 cried the Prophet in great excitement；
〃to cover the spats； since you can't get on Mr。 Ferdinand's boots。
Kindly turn them down。〃
〃As to the spats； sir； the architects and their wives〃
〃Mr。 Sagittarius；〃 exclaimed the Prophet； 〃I think it right to inform
you that if you mention the architects and their wives again； I may
very probably go mad。 I don't say I shall； but I will not answer for
myself。 Have the goodness to turn them down and follow me。〃
Mr。 Sagittarius obeyed； and followed the Prophet from the room with a
waddling gait and a terrible sensation of having nothing on。 The coat
and trousers which he wore flapped about him as he descended the stairs
in the wake of the Prophet； glancing nervously about him and starting
at the slightest sound。 In the library they found Madame； holding the
great Juvenile upside down and looking exceedingly cross。
〃Will you be good enough to come upstairs？〃 said the Prophet to her
very politely； though his fingers twitched to strangle her。 〃I wish to
present you to my grandmother； and dinner is just ready。〃
Madame rose with dignity。
〃I am ready too；〃 she said； with a click。 〃/Semper paratis/。〃
And； shaking up the fichu； she ascended the stairs。 Outside the
drawing…room door the Prophet； who seemed strangely calm； but who was
in reality almost bursting with nervous excitement； paused and faced
his old and valued friends。
〃You will forgive my saying so； I hope；〃 he whispered； 〃but my
grandmother is not well and much conversation tires her。 So we don't
talk too much in her presence。 Only just now and then； you understand。〃
And with this last injunctionfutile； he knew as he gave ithe
commended himself to whatever powers there be and opened the door。
Sir Tiglath had not yet arrived； but Lady Julia Postlethwaite was
seated on a sofa by Mrs。 Merillia； and was conversing with her about
the Court； the dreadful amount of money a certain dukeher third
cousinhad recently had to pay in Death Duties； the corrupt condition
of society； and the absurd pretensions of the lower middle classes。
Lady Julia was sensitive and a very /grande dame/。 She wore her hair
powdered； and had a slight cough and exquisite manners。 Once a lady in
waiting； she was now a widow； possessed a set of apartments in Hampton
Court Palace； worshipped Queen Alexandra； and had scarcely ever spoken
to anybody who moved outside of Court Circles。 The Duke of Wellington
was said to have embraced her when a child。
Mrs。 Merillia and this lady looked up when the door opened； and Lady
Julia paused midway in a sentence； of which these were the opening
words；
〃The old duke wouldn't make it over； and so poor Loftus has to pay
nearly a million to the Chancellor of the Excheq〃
〃How d'you do； Lady Julia？ Grannie； I have persuaded my friends； Mr。
and Madame Sagittarius； to join us at dinner。 Sir Tiglath Butt is most
anxious to meet Mr。 Sagittarius； who is a great astronomer。 Let me
Madame Sagittarius； Mrs。 MerilliaMr。 SagittariusMrs。 Merillia； my
grandmotherLady Julia Postlethwaite。〃
Mrs。 Merillia； although taken completely by surprise； and fully
conscious that her grandson had committed an outrage in turning an
arranged and intimate quartette without permission into a disorganised
sextette； bowed with self…possessed graciousness； and indicated a chair
to Madame； who seated herself in it with that sort of defensive and
ostentatious majesty which is often supposed by ill…bred people to be a
perfect society manner。 Mr。 Sagittarius remained standing in his
enormous suit； turning out his feet； over which Mr。 Ferdinand's
trousers rippled in broadcloth waves； in the first position。 A slight
pause ensued； during which the Prophet was uncomfortably affected by
the behaviour of Madame； who gazed at the very neat and superior wig
worn by Mrs。 Merillia； and at that lady's charming silver grey damask
gown； in a manner that suggested amazement tempered with indignation；
her instant expression of these two sentiments being only held in check
by a certain reverence which was doubtless inspired by the pretty room；
the thick carpet； the ancestral pictures upon the walls； and the lofty
bearing of Lady Julia Postlethwaite； who could scarcely conceal her
very natural surprise at the extraordinary appearance of Mr。
Sagittarius。 As to Mrs。 Merillia； although she was； in reality； near
fainting with wonder at her grandson's escapade； she preserved an
expression of gracious benignity； and did not allow a motion of her
eyelids or a flutter of her fan to betray her emotion at finding
herself the unprepared hostess of such unusual guests。 The Prophet
broke the silence by saying； in a voice that cracked with agitation；
〃I trustI sincerely trust that we shall have a clement spring this
year。〃
Lady Julia； at whom he had looked while uttering this original desire；
was about to reply when Madame uttered a stentorian click and
interposed。
〃In the spring the young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of
love；〃 she remarked； with the fictitious ease of profound ill…breeding。
No one dared to dispute the portentous statement； and she resumed
majestically；
〃The Mouse is delicious in spring。〃
There was another dead silence； and Madame； turning with patronising
and heavy affability towards Lady Julia； added；
〃Your ladyship doubtless loves the Mouse/Mus Pulcherrimo/in spring
as I do？〃
The Prophet felt as if he were being pricked by thousands of red…hot
needles； and the perspiration burst out in beads upon his forehead。
〃I am not specially fond of mice in spring； or indeed at any season；〃
replied Lady Julia； with her slight； but very distinct and bell…like；
cough。
〃I said the Mouse； your ladyship；〃 returned Madame； feeding upon this
titled acquaintance with her bulging black eyes； and pushing the kid
boots well out from under her brown skirt。 〃I observed that the Mouse
was peculiarly delicious in the season of love。〃
〃No mouse attracts me；〃 said Lady Julia； coughing again and raising her
fine eyebrows slightly。 〃I should much prefer to pass the spring
without the companionship of any mouse whatever。〃
Both Madame and Mr。 Sagittarius opened their lips to reply； but before
they could eject a single word the door was opened by Mr。 Ferdinand；
who announced；
〃Sir Tiglath Butt。〃
Mr。 Sagittarius started violently and upset a vase of roses； the
astronomer rolled into the room with a very red face； and Mr。 Ferdinand
added；
〃Dinner is served。〃
Mrs。 Merillia shook hands with Sir Tiglath and glanced despairingly
around her。 It was sufficiently obvious that she was considering how to
arrange the procession to the dining…room。
〃Hennessey；〃 she began； 〃will you take Lady Julia？ Sir Tiglath； will
you〃she paused； but there was no help for it； she was obliged to
continue〃take Mrs。 Sagittarius？ Let me introduce you； Sir Tiglath
ButtMrs。 Sagittarius。 Mr。 Sagittarius； will you take〃
〃Mr。 Sagittarius！〃 roared Sir Tiglath。 〃Where is he？〃
That gentleman gathered Mr。 Ferdinand's trousers up in both hands and
prepared for instantaneous flight。
〃Where is he？〃 bellowed Sir Tiglath； wheeling round with amazing
rapidity for so fat a man。 〃Ha！〃
He had viewed Mr。 Sagittarius； who； grasping Mr。 Ferdinand's suit in
pleats； ducked his head like one wishing to be beforehand with violence
and set the spats towards the door。 Sir Tiglath advanced upon him。
〃The old astronomer has heard the name of Sagittarius；〃 he vociferated。
〃He has been informed that〃
〃It's not true； sir；〃 cried Mr。 Sagittarius； pale with terror。 〃It is
not true。 I deny it。 I am an AmeriI mean I am not the American
syndicateyou are in error； in absolute error。 I swear it。 I take the
heavens to witness。〃
At this remarkable and comprehensive statement Mrs。 Merillia and Lady
Julia looked at each other in elegant amazement。
〃What do you mean； sir？〃 exclaimed Sir Tiglath。 〃And why do you insult
the sacred heavens； you an astronomer！〃
〃I am not an astronomer；〃 cried Mr。 Sagittarius； cringing in the
voluminous waistcoat of Mr。 Ferdinand。 〃I am an outside broker。 I swear
it。 My dress； my manner proclaim the fact。 Sophronia； tell the
gentleman that I am an outside broker and that all Margate has
recognised me as such。〃
〃My husband states the fact；〃 said Madame； in response to this
impassioned appeal。 〃My husband brokes outside； and has done for the
last twent