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indisposed； and I myself need rest。〃
〃Well； then； you can't have it；〃 retorted the lady with authoritative
spitefulness。 〃You can't have it； not till three o'clock。〃
〃I beg your pardon！〃 said the Prophet； with trembling lips。
〃What for？〃
〃I really regret that I must retire。 Allow me〃
〃I'll not allow you。 Where is my husband？ He's not at the Zoological
Gardens。〃
〃He has probably returned home。〃
〃To the Mouse！ Then he's a coward and an oath…breaker； and if Sir
Tiglath was to catch him I shouldn't be sorry。 Kindly lead me at once
to the telescope。 I will take his place。 No one shall say that Madame
Malkiel ever flinched at duty's call。 /Praesto et persistibus/。 Conduct
me at once to the telescope。〃
〃The telescope！〃 cried the Prophet。 〃What for？〃
〃Lawks！〃 cried Madame； with pronounced temper。 〃Did we not journey from
the Mouse a…purpose to go practically into the mystery of the dressed
Crab？〃
〃I reallyI really cannot consent without a chaperon；〃 began the
Prophet。
〃The wife of Malkiel the Second needs no chaperone；〃 retorted Madame。
〃This night has altered my conditionI stand from henceforth far
beyond the reach of etiquette。 The world knows me now and will not dare
to carp。 /Carpe dies/。〃
During the foregoing colloquy her voice had become louder and louder；
and the Prophet； dreading unspeakably lest his grandmother should be
disturbed and affrighted once more； gave up the struggle； and； without
more ado； conducted Madame into the butler's pantry in which the
telescope still remained。
Meanwhile what had become of Malkiel the Second？
When Mrs。 Merillia suddenly appeared before him in her night…bonnet and
accused him of being a ratcatcher he had very naturally fled； his first
impulse being to leave the house at once and continue his journey to
the docks。 But even a prophet is but mortal。 Malkiel had passed through
an eventful day followed by a still more eventful evening。 His mind was
completely exhausted。 Even so； however； he might have continued upon
his journey towards Java had not his legs prosaically shown signs of
giving way under him just as he once more gained the hall。 This decided
him。 He must have some short repose at whatever cost。 He therefore
pushed feebly at the nearest door； and found himself promptly in the
apartment of the upper servants。 Staggering to the what…not of
Gustavus； he sank down upon it and fell into a melancholy reverie； from
which he was roused by the constant tingling cry of Mrs。 Merillia's
second bell； which rang close to where he was reposing。 He tried to
start up； but failed； and it was only when the hall door bell； attacked
by the Prophet； added its voice to its companion's that his terror lent
him sufficient strength to flee very slowly into the inner fastnesses
of this unknown region。 There was a light in the servant's hall； but
darkness lay beyond and Malkiel knew not whither he was penetrating。 He
barked his shins； but could not tell against what hard substance。 He
bruised his elbow； but could not know what piece of furniture had
assailed it。 On coming in contact with a dresser he saw a few sparks；
but they speedily died out； and he was obliged to feel his way onward；
till presently he came across a large leather chair in which Mrs。
Merillia's cook was wont to sit while directing her subordinates at the
basting machine。 Into this he sank palpitating； and for a moment
remained undisturbed。 Then； to his horror； he heard in the adjoining
room the strident voice of his loved and honoured wife apparently
carrying on a decidedly vivacious argument with some person unknown。 He
bounded up。 Possibly she was accompanied by Sir Tiglath； who must now
be aware of his identity。 In any case； her wrath at his scarcely
chivalrous desertion of her in the house of a stranger would； he knew；
be terrible。 He dared not face it。 He dared not allow his project of
flight at dawn to be interfered with； as it certainly would be if he
came across Madame。 He therefore proceeded to flee once more。 Nor did
he pause until he had gained Mr。 Ferdinand's pantry； where stood the
telescope。 Now； in this pantry there was a large cupboard in which were
kept the very numerous and magnificent pieces of plate； etc。； possessed
by Mrs。 Merillia； tall silver candelabra； standard lamps of polished
bronze； richly…chased cups； gigantic vases for containing flowers；
oriental incense holders upon stands of ebony； Spanish charcoal dishes
of burnished brass； and other treasures far too numerous to mention。
This cupboard was always carefully locked at night； but on this
occasion Mr。 Ferdinand； totally disorganised by the frightful scenes
which had taken place at his dinner table during the evening； had
retired to bed in a condition of collapse； leaving it open。 Malkiel the
Second； feeling frantically about in the dark； came upon the door of
this cupboard； pulled it； found that it yielded to his hand； and；
hearing the rapidly approaching voices of Madame and the Prophet；
stumbled into the cupboard and sank down on a large gold loving…cup；
with one foot in a silver soup tureen； and the other in a priceless
sugar basin； just as the light of the candle borne by the Prophet
glimmered in the darkness of the adjacent corridor。
〃This way； Madame；〃 said the Prophet。 〃But I really think such a
proceeding is calculated to cause a grave scandal in the square。〃
Malkiel the Second drew the cupboard door to； and grasped a silver
candelabrum in each hand to sustain himself upon the rather sharp rim
of the loving…cup。
〃What is the square to me or I to the square？〃 returned Madame with
ungrammatical majesty。 〃Madame Malkiel is not governed by any ordinary
laws。 /Lexes non scripta/ is her motto。 To these alone she clings。〃
Her husband clung to the candelabra and burst into a violent
perspiration。 Through the keyhole of the cupboard a ray of light now
shone； and he heard the frou…frou of his partner's skirt； the flump of
the rabbit…skins as she cast them from her ample shoulders upon the
floor。 The Prophet's voice became audible again。
〃What do you wish me to do？〃 he said； with a sort of embittered
courtesy。
〃Throw open the window； place yourself before the telescope； and
proceed at once to your investigations；〃 replied the lady。
〃I am not in a condition to investigate；〃 said the Prophet。 〃I am not
indeed。 If you will only let me get you a cab； to…morrow night〃
'It is useless to talk； Mr。 Vivian；〃 said Madame； very sharply。 〃The
cab has not yet been made that will convey me to the Mouse to…night。〃
〃But your husband〃
〃My husband is a coward； unworthy of such a wife as he possesses。 At
the crisis of our fortunesWhat's that？〃
At this painful moment Malkiel the Second was so overcome by emotion；
that he trembled； and allowed his left foot to rattle slightly on the
sugar basin。
〃What was it？〃 repeated Madame。
〃Rats； I have no doubt；〃 answered the Prophet； who had heard nothing。
〃I believe that the basements of these old houses are simplywell
simply permeated with rats。〃
For a moment Madame blanched； but she was a woman of spirit； and
moreover she was almost intoxicated with ambition。 Recognised at last
as a lady of position and importance in one of the mansions of the
idiotic great； she was more anxious than ever to remove forthwith into
the central districts； there to exercise that sway which she had so
long desired。 Finding that there exists a world in which prophetsfar
from being considered as dirty and deceitful personsare worshipped
and adored； entertained with Pommery and treated almost as gods； she
yearned to dwell in the midst of it。 The peaceful seclusion of the
Mouse was become hateful to her。 The architects and their wives began
to seem to her uplifted fancy little better than the circle that
frequented Hagglin's Buildings； or appeared at the paltry
entertainments given by the inhabitants of Drakeman's Villas。 She was
resolved to soar； and even rats should not turn her from her passionate
purpose。 Accordingly she replied；
〃Rats or no rats； I intend to see this matter out。 /Dixisti！/ The
night wanes。 Kindly go at once to the telescope。〃
The Prophet obeyed； first opening the window into the area。 The rain
had now cleared off； but the sky was still rather cloudy； and only a
few stars peeped here and there。
〃Really；〃 said the Prophet； after applying his weary eye to the
machine； 〃really I don't think it's any good； there are so very〃
〃Have the goodness to place the old lady in the claws of the Crab；
according to the directions of the coward who has deserted me。〃
Malkiel shook with shame upon the loving…cup。
〃But I really can't find the Crab；〃 said the Prophet； who was so tired
that he could scarcely stand。 〃I can see the Great Bear。〃
〃That is no use。 The Bear has nothing to do with the old lady。 You must
find the Cra