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height and rolling vigorously in innumerable directions； two or three
bangs of doors； and the peculiar patter of rather large and flat feet；
unaccustomed to any rapid exercise； moving over boards； oilcloth and
carpet。 Then the swing door sang； and the Prophet； opening his eyes；
perceived Madame Malkiel moving forward with considerable vivacity； and
screaming as she moved； her bonnet depending down her back and the
rabbit…skins flowing from her ample shoulders。 Immediately behind her
ran her spouse； holding in one hand a silver pepper castor； and in the
other a small and very beautifully finished bronze teapot of the
William of Orange period。 The worthy couple fleeted by； and the Prophet
turned his expressionless eyes towards the swing door expecting
immediately to perceive Sir Tiglath Butt in valiant pursuit。 As no such
figure presented itself； and as the Malkiels were now beginning to
mount the stairs with continually increasing velocity； the Prophet
slowly uncrossed his legs； and was thinking of getting upon his feet
when there came a loud knock upon the hall door。
〃Gustavus！〃 said the Prophet； glancing round。
He perceived the footman lying in a dead faint near the umbrella stand。
〃Oh！〃 he said； speaking to himself aloud。 〃Oh！ Then I must go myself。〃
Acting upon his conception of his duty； he accordingly walked to the
front door； opened it； and found the policeman outside supporting the
senseless form of Sir Tiglath Butt in one hand and holding a broken
truncheon in the other。
〃Well？〃 said the Prophet； calmly。 〃Well？〃
〃I knocked him down as he was making a bolt；〃 said the policeman。
The Prophet found himself wondering why so industrious and even useful
an occupation should be interfered with in such a manner。 However； he
only replied；
〃Indeed！〃
〃Ah；〃 said the policeman； stepping into the hall and laying the
astronomer out across a chair； 〃what's up？〃
〃They are both up；〃 answered the Prophet； pointing with a lethargic
finger towards the staircase； from which； at this moment； arose a
perfect hubbub of voices。
〃Come on！〃 cried the policeman。
〃Why？〃 asked the Prophet。
〃Why！ you're a nice un； you are！ Why！ And nab 'em； of course！〃
〃You think it would be wise towhat was the wordnab them？〃 inquired
the Prophet。 〃You really think so？〃
〃Well； what am I here for then？〃 said the policeman； with angry irony。
〃Oh； if you prefer；〃 rejoined the Prophet； civilly。 〃Nab them by all
means。 I shall not prevent you。〃
The policeman； who was an active and industrious fellow deserving of
praise； waited for no further permission； but immediately darted up the
stairs； and in less than a minute returned with Mrs。 Merilliaattired
in a black silk gown； a bonnet； and an Indian shawl presented to her on
her marriage by a very great personagein close custody。
〃Here's one of 'em！〃 he shouted。 〃Here； you lay hold of her while I
fetch the rest！〃
And with these words he thrust the Prophet's grandmother into one of
his hands； the broken truncheon into the other； and turning smartly
round； again bounded up the stairs。
In a famous poem of the late Lord Tennyson there is related a dramatic
incident of a lady whose disinclination to cry； when such emotion would
have been only natural； was overcome by the presentation to her of her
child。 A somewhat similar effect was produced upon our Prophet by the
constable's presentation to him of his honoured grandmother。 The sight
of her reverent head； surmounted by the bonnet which she had assumed in
readiness to flee from the house which she could no longer regard as a
homethe touch of her delicate handthe flutter of her so hallowed
Indian shawlthese things broke down the strange calm of her devoted
grandson。 Like summer tempest came his emotion； and； when the policeman
presently returned with Malkiel the Second and Madame nabbed by his
right and left hands； and followed by Lady Enid and the weeping Mrs。
Fancy； he was confronted by a most pathetic tableau。 The Prophet and
Mrs。 Merillia were weeping in each other's arm's while Sir Tiglath and
Gustavusjust returned to consciousnesswere engaged in examining the
proceeding with puppy dog's eyes。
Over the explanations that ensued a veil may be partially drawn。 One
lifted corner； however； allows us to note that Sir Tiglath Butt； having
come upon Madame hidden behind a bin of old port in the Prophet's
cellar； had been seized by a desire not to alarm a lady so profound
that it prompted him to hurry to the butler's pantry； and to seek
concealment in the very cupboard which already contained Malkiel the
Second。 On perceiving that gentleman perched upon the loving…cup； and
protected by candlesticks； sugar basins； teapots and other weapons； the
astronomer's anxiety to become a murderer apparently forsook him。 At
any rate； he passed through the plate…glass of the window rather
hastily into the area； where； as we know； he received the solicitous
attentions of the policeman who had served as an intermediary between
the Lord Chancellor's second cookwhose supper of dressed crab had
caused so much confusionand the supposed Mr。 Ferdinand。 Malkiel the
Second； finding himself discovered； took to the open just as Madame
fled forth from the cellar； to be overtaken by the very natural
misconception that she was about to become the victim of a husband
whose jealousy had at length caused him to assume his /toga virilibus/。
Perhaps it was Sir Tiglath's throwing off of the said garment which
caused Lady Enid to throw him over。 At any rate； she eventually married
Mr。 Robert Green and made him a very sensible wife。
The Malkiels returned to the Mouse； where they still live； and still
carry on a certain amount of intercourse with architects and their
wives。 From time to time； however； they attend the receptions at
Zoological House； and a rumour recently ran through the circles of the
silly to the effect that they had been looking at a house not far from
the Earls Court Station； with a viewit is surmisedof removing to
more central districts。
They are no longer on terms with the Prophet。
He has retired from business and put down his telescope once and for
all； recognising that prophecy is a dangerous employment； and one
likely to bring about the very evils it foreshadows。 Calmly he dwells
with his beloved grandmother in the Berkeley Square； which has received
them once more into its former favour。 Sometimes； at night； when the
sky is clear； and the bright stars； the guardian stars； keep watch over
his aristocratic neighbourhood； he draws aside the curtain from the
drawing…room window and glances forth at Mercury and Uranus； Jupiter；
Saturn and Venus。 And when his eyes meet their twinkling eyes； he
exchanges with themnot a question and answer； not a demand for unholy
information and a reluctant reply； but a serene； gentlemanly and
perfectly decorous good…night。
End