\"Ireallybegyourpardon，\"saidtheProphet，whileMr。Sagittariusstoodstillintheviolentattitudeofonedeterminedtododgesolongashehasbreath。\"Iamnotatallinthehabitof\"——Mr。Sagittariusdodged——\"ofintrudinguponstrangers——\"Mr。SagittariusdodgedagainwithsuchextraordinaryabruptnessanddeterminationthathenearlycausedtheyounglibrariantoswallowtheProphet’sgoldenbribe。\"I
seeyoudon’tbelieveme，\"theProphetcontinued，flushingpinkbutstillholdinghisground，andindeedtryingtoturnMr。Sagittarius’sflankbyastrategicmovementofalmostmilitaryprecision。\"Iseethatplainly，but——\"Mr。Sagittariusduckedtotheleft，endeavouringtocoverthemanoeuvrebyanalmostsimultaneousandextremelypassionatefeinttowardstheProphet’scentre，whichwasimmediatelywithdrawningoodorder——\"butyourremark——arkablename，Saag——itt—ittarius，suggestedtomethatyouarerea—eallythemanIseek。\"
HehadnowgotMr。SagittariusintoaveryawkwardbitofcountrybetweentheletterP。intherack，underwhichreposedMissPartridge’scorrespondence，andthenewspaperbureau，withthecounterimmediatelyonhisrear，andtakingadvantageofthiscircumstance，hecontinuedrapidly：
\"MayIaskwhetheryourecentlyreceivedaletter——onemoment！——
envelope——crest——Ionlywanttoknowifyouhavereceived——only——anelephantrampant——swarmof——ofbees——\"
\"Ihaveneverreceivedarampantelephantandaswarmofbees，\"criedMr。Sagittariuswitheverysymptomofunbridledterror。\"Help，FrederickSmith！\"
\"Rightyouare，MalkieltheSecond！\"criedtheyounglibrarian，hastilypocketingthehalfsovereignandmakingafeverishlungeatnothinginparticularoverthecounter。\"Rightyouare！\"
\"MalkieltheSecond！\"ejaculatedtheProphet。\"ThenyouarethemanI
seek。\"
MalkieltheSecond——foritwasindeedhe——sankbackagainstthecounterinanattitudeofabandonedprostrationthatwouldhavemadeafortuneofacomicactor。
\"ItrustedtoJellybrand’s，\"hesaid，drawingfromhistailpocketawhitehandkerchiefcoveredwithapatternofpinkstorksinflight。\"I
trustedtoJellybrand’sandJellybrand’shasbetrayedme。Oh，FrederickSmith！\"
Heputastorktoeacheye。Theyounglibrarianassumedaninjuredair。
\"Itwastheagitationdidit，Mr。Sagittarius，\"hesaid。\"Ifyouhadn’ta—kep’dodgingIshouldn’thavelostmymemory。\"
AndhelookedavariciouslyattheProphet，whosmiledathimreassuringlyanddrewforthacardcase。
\"Ifeelsure，Mr。Sag——Malkiel——\"
\"MalkieltheSecond，sir，ismynameifitisbetrayedbyJellybrand’s，\"saidthatgentlemanwithsuddendignity。\"Thereisnoneedofanymister。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"saidtheProphet，handinghiscard。\"Thatismynameandaddress。MayIbegyoutoforgivemyapparentanxietytomakeyouracquaintance，andimploreyoutograntmeafewmomentsofprivateconversationonamatteroftheutmostimportance？\"
MalkieltheSecondreadthecard。
\"BerkeleySquare，\"hesaid。\"/The/BerkeleySquare？\"
\"Exactly，theBerkeleySquare，\"saidtheProphet，modestly。
\"NottheoneatBrixtonRisebehindtheKimmins’smews？\"saidMalkieltheSecond，suspiciously。
\"Certainlynot。TheonenearGrosvenorSquare。\"
\"That’sbetter，\"saidMalkiel，uponwhomtheProphet’saddresshadevidentlymadeagoodimpression。\"Kimmins’sisnoclassatall。Hadyoucomefromthere，I——butwhatmayyouwantwithme？\"
TheProphetglancedsignificantlyattheyounglibrarian，whowasleaninguponthecounterinatense，keyholeposition，withhisprivateearturnedsomewhatostentatiouslytowardsthetwospeakers。
\"Icantellyouinaninnerroom，\"hemurmured，inhismostingratiatingmanner。
\"You’recertainit’snotBerkeleySquarebehindKimmins’s？\"saidMalkiel，withalastflickerofsuspicion。
\"Quitecertain——quite。\"
\"FrederickSmith，\"saidMalkieltheSecond，\"sinceJellybrand’shasbetrayedmeJellybrand’smustabidetheconsequences。Showthisgentlemanandmetotheparlour。\"
\"Right，Mr。Sagittarius，\"repliedtheyounglibrarianwhosememoryhadagainbecomeexcellent。\"ButMissMinervaiscomingatthree—thirty。\"
\"Hasshebespoketheparlour，FrederickSmith？\"
\"Yes，Mr。Sagittarius。\"
\"Thenshecan’thaveit。That’sall。Jellybrand’smustabidethefullconsequencesofmybetrayal。Goforward，FrederickSmith。\"
Theyounglibrarianwentforwardtowardsadoorofdealandgroundglasswhichhethrewopenwithsomeceremony。
\"Theparlour，gents，\"hesaid。
\"Afteryou，sir，afteryou，\"saidMalkieltheSecond，makingasidestepandbringinghisfeettogetherinthefirstposition。
\"No，no，\"rejoinedtheProphet，gentlydrawingthesagetothefront，andinsertinghimintotheparlourinsuchaningeniousmannerthathedidnotperceivethejourneyofasecondhalfsovereignfromthepersonoftheProphettothatoftheyounglibrarian，whothereafterclosedthedealandgroundglassdoor，andreturnedtothecounter，whistlinginanabsent—mindedmanner，\"I’maHappyMillionairefromColorado。\"
CHAPTERIII
THETWOPROPHETSPARTAKEOF\"CREAMINGFOAM。\"
\"Andnow，sir，\"saidMalkieltheSecond，pointingtoacoupleofcanechairswhich，withthetable，endeavoured，ratherunsuccessfully，tofurnishforththeparlouratJellybrand’s，\"nowsir，whatdoyouwantwithme？\"
Ashespokehethrewhisblackovercoatwideopen，seatedhimselfontheedgeofoneofthechairsinadignifiedattitude，andcrossedhisfeet——whichwerenotinnocentofspats——oneovertheother。
TheProphetwasresolvedtodareall，andhe，therefore，answeredboldly，——
\"MalkieltheSecond，Iwishtospeaktoyouasoneprophettoanother。\"
AtthisremarkMalkielstartedviolently，anddartedasearchingglancefrombeneathhisblondeeyebrowsatHennessey。
\"DoyouliveintheBerkeleySquare，sir，\"hesaid，\"andclaimtobeaprophet？\"
\"Ido，\"saidHennessey，withmodestdetermination。
Malkielsmiled，alongandwreathedsmilethatwasfulloflusciousmelancholyandtragicsweetness。
\"Theassumptionseemsratherridiculous——forgiveme，\"heexclaimed。
\"TheBerkeleySquare！WhateverwouldMadamesay？\"
\"Madame？\"saidtheProphet，inquiringly。
\"MadameMalkiel，orMadameSagittarius，asshealwayspasses。\"
\"Yourwife？\"
\"Myhonouredlady，\"saidMalkiel，withpride。\"Moretomealmostthananylunarguideorstarrymonitor。What，oh，whatwouldshesaytoaprophetfromtheBerkeleySquare？\"
Heburstintohollowlaughter，shakinguponthecanechairtillitsveryfoundationsseemedthreatenedasbyanearthquake，andwasobligedtoapplytheflightofstorkstohiseyesbeforehecouldinanydegreerecoverhisequanimity。Atlengthheglancedupwithtearsrollingdownhischeeks。
\"Excuseme，sir，\"hesaid。\"Butwhatcanyouknowofprophecyinsuchafashionableneighbourhood，closetoGrosvenorSquareandwithinsight，asonemaysay，ofPiccadilly？Oh，dear，oh，dear！\"
\"Butreally，\"saidtheProphet，whohadflushedred，butwhostillspokewithpleasantmildness，\"whatinfluencecanneighbourhoodhaveuponsuchasuperterrestrialmatter？\"
\"DidIsaiahresideintheBerkeleySquare，sir？\"
\"Ifancynot。Still——\"
\"Ifancynot，too，\"rejoinedMalkiel。\"NorBernardWilkinseither，oranyprophetthateverIheardof。Why，evenJesseJoneslivesoffPerkin’sRoad，WandsworthCommon，thoughhedoeskeepasitting—roominBernersStreetjusttoseehisclientsin，andheisaverylow—classperson，evenforaprophet。No，no，sir，Madameisquiteright。Shemarriedmedespitethedamning——yes，Isay，sir，thedamningfactthatIwasaprophet——\"hereMalkieltheSecondbroughtdownoneofthedogskingloveswithviolenceuponthericketyparlourtable——\"butbeforeeverwewenttotheRegistrar’sshemademetakeasolemnoath。
Whatwasit，doyousay？\"
\"Yes，Ido，\"saidHennessey，leaningforwardandgazingintoMalkiel’slongandexcitedfaceroundwhichtheheavymatofpomadedhairvibrated。
\"Itwasthis，sir——tomixwithnoprophetssolongaswebothshouldlive。Prophets，shetrulysaid，arelow—class，evendirty，persons。
Theirparties，their’athomes’areshoddy。Theyliveinfourth—rateneighbourhoods。Theyburngasandsitonhorsehair。Onlyinrarecasesdotheyhaveanybathroomintheirhouses。Theirinfluencewouldbebadforthechildrenwhentheybegintogrowup。HowcouldCoronamakeher/debut/\"——Malkielpronounceditdebbew——\"inpropheticcircles？HowcouldshecomeoutinDrakeman’sVillas，Tooting，ordancewithsuchyoungfellersasfrequentHagglin’sBuildings，ClaphamRise？Howcouldshedoit，sir？\"
\"Idon’tknow，I’msure，\"gaspedtheProphet。
\"NorI，sir，norI，\"continuedMalkiel，withunabatedfervour。\"Andit’sthesamewithCapricornus。Myboyshallnotbethrowninwithprophets。DidMalkieltheFirststartthe/Almanac/forthat？Didhefosterittillitwentfromthepoorservantgirl’satticintothegildedapartmentsofthearistocracyandlayevenuponRoyaltablesforthat？Didhe，Isay？\"
\"Ihaven’tanidea，\"saidtheProphet。
\"Hedidnot，sir。AndI——Imyself\"——hearrangedthediamondpininhiswhitesatintiewithanalmostimperialgesture——\"havenotfolloweduponthelineshelaiddownwithoutimbibing，asImaytrulysay，theloftyspiritthatguidedhim，theloftysocialspirit，asMadamecallsit。Therehavebeenotherprophets，Iknow。Thereareotherprophets。I
donotattempttodenyit。Butwhereelsethanhere，sir\"——thedogskinglovelayuponthebreastofthechocolatebrownfrockcoat——\"whereelsethanherewillyoufindaprophetwhohideshisidentitybeneathan/alias/，whoremains，asMadamealwayssays，/perdew/，andwhoconductshisprofessiononhonourableandbusiness—likelines？AmI
dressedlikeaprophet？\"HesuddenlybroughthisdoubledfistdownupontheProphet’sknee。
\"No，\"criedHennessey。\"Certainlynot！\"
\"Why，sir，howcanIbewhenItellyouthatMerriman&SaxsterofRegentStreetaremytailors，andhavebeensincemyfirstpairoftrouserings？DoIbearmyselfprophetically？IthinkyouwillagreethatIdonotwhenyouknowthatIamfrequentlymistakenforanoutsidebroker——yes，sir，andthatthishasevenhappeneduponthepieratMargate。YouhaveseenmydemeanouratJellybrand’s。Yousawmecomeintothelibrary。YousawmymannerwithFrederickSmith。Wasitassuming？DidIlorditoverthelad？\"
\"Certainlynot。\"
\"No。Imighthavebeenanybody，anyordinarypersonlivinginGrosvenorPlace，or，likeyourself，intheBerkeleySquare。Andsoiteveris。
Otherprophetsthereare——possiblymenofacertainabilityeveninthatdirection——butthereisonlyoneMalkiel，onlyonewhoattendsstrictlytobusiness，whodrawsagoodincomefromthestars，sir，andsatisfiesthepublicmonthin，monthout，withoutmakingafussaboutit。Waitafewyears，sir，onlywait！\"
\"Certainly，\"saidtheProphet。\"Iwill。\"
\"Waittillthechildrenaregrownup。WaittillCapricornushasgothisLatinbyheartandgonetoOxford。Then，andonlythen，youwillknowwhetherMalkieltheSecondistheexceptiontotheruleofprophets。
Yes，andMadameshallknowit，too。Shetrustedme，sir，asonlyawomancan。SheknewIwasaprophetandhadaprophetforafatherbeforeme。Andyetshetrustedme。Itwasadaringthingtodo。Manywouldcallitfoolhardy。Wouldn’tthey，sir？\"
Thedogskinglovewasraised。TheProphethastenedtoreply，——
\"Idaresaytheywould。\"
\"Butshewasnotafraid，andsheshallhaveherreward。CoronashallneversetfootinDrakeman’sVillas，norbreathetheairofHagglin’s。
Imusthaveaglassofwater，Imust，sir，indeed。\"
Hegaspedheavilyandwasabouttorise，whentheProphetsaid：
\"Joinmeinaglassofwine。\"
\"Ishouldbedelighted，\"Malkielanswered。\"Delighted，I’msure，butI
doubtwhetherJellybrand’s——\"
\"CouldnotFrederickSmithgooutandfetchusa——apintbottleofchampagne？\"saidtheProphet，playingadesperatecardinthepropheticgame。
AnexpressionalmostofjovialityoverspreadthetragicfarceofMalkiel’sappearance。
\"We’llsee，\"heanswered，openingthedealdoor。\"FrederickSmith！\"
\"Here，Mr。Sagittarius，\"criedthesopranovoiceoftheyounglibrarian。
\"Canyouleavethelibraryforamoment，FrederickSmith？\"
TheProphetheldupasovereignoverMalkieltheSecond’snarrowshoulder。
\"Yes，Mr。Sagittarius，forhalfamo！\"
\"Ah！Whereisthenearestchampagne，FrederickSmith？\"
\"Thenearest——\"
\"Champagne，Isaid，FrederickSmith。\"
\"IdaresayIcouldgetadozenatGillow’snexttherabbitshop，\"
repliedtheyounglibrarian，thoughtfully。
TheProphetshudderedtothedepthsofhisbeing，buthewasnowembarkeduponhisenterpriseandmustcrowdallsail。
\"GotoGillow’s，\"heexclaimed，withanassumptionoffeverishgeniality，\"andbringbackacoupleofrabbits——Imeanbottles。Theymustbedry。Youunderstand？\"
Theyounglibrarianlookedoutofthewindow。
\"Oh，I’llmanagethat，sir。Itain’training，\"herepliedcarelessly。
TheProphetstifledacryofhorrorashepressedthesovereignintotheyounglibrarian’shand。
\"Youcankeepthechange，\"hewhispered，addinginatremulousvoice，\"Tellme——tellmefrankly——doyouthinkinyourownmindthattherewillbeany？\"
\"Idon’tknowaboutinmyownmind，\"rejoinedtheyounglibrarian，drawingatweedcapfromsomehiddenrecessbeneaththecounter。\"ButifyouonlywanttwobottlesIexpectthere’llbetenbobover。\"
TheProphetturnedaspaleasashesandhadsomedifficultyinsustaininghimselftotheparlour，whereheandMalkieltheSecondsatdowninsilencetoawaittheyounglibrarian’sreturn。FrederickSmithcamebackinaboutfiveminutes，withanostentatious—lookingbottlesmotheredingoldleafundereacharm。
\"Therewasfourshillingsapiecetopay，sir，\"heremarkedtotheProphetasheplacedthemuponthetable。\"Igotthe’ourownmake’
brandwiththe’creamingfoam’uponthecorks。\"
TheProphetbenthishead。Hewasquiteunabletospeak，buthesignedtotheyounglibrariantoopenoneofthebottlesandpouritscontentsintothetwotumblersofthickandratherdustyglassthatJellybrand’skeptforitsmomentsofconviviality。MalkieltheSecondliftedthegoblettothewindowandeyedthebeadednectarwithanairofalmostrakishanticipation。
\"Ready，sir？\"hesaid，turningtotheProphet，who，withatremblinghand，followedhisexample。
\"Quite——ready，\"saidtheProphet，shuttinghiseyes。
\"Then，\"rejoinedMalkieltheSecondinaformalvoice，\"here’sluck！\"
Heheldthetumblertohislips，waitingfortheProphet’sreplytogivethesignalforaunanimousswallowingofthepricelesswine。
\"Luck，\"echoedtheProphetinafalteringvoice。
Ashegraduallyrecoveredhisfaculties，heheardMalkieltheSecondsay，withanalmostdebauchedaccent，——
\"Thatputsheartintoaman。IshallgiveGillowsanorder。Leaveus，FrederickSmith，andrememberthatMissMinervaisonnoaccounttobeletinheretillthisgentlemanandIhavefinishedthesecondbottle。\"
TheProphetcouldnotresistawildmovementofprotest，whichwasapparentlytakenbytheyounglibrarianasapassionategestureofdismissal。Forhelefttheroomrapidlyandclosedthedoorwithdecisionbehindhim。
\"Andnow，sir，Iamatyourservice，\"saidMalkieltheSecond，courteously。\"Letmepouryouanotherglassofwine。\"
TheProphetassentedmechanically。Itseemedstrangetohavetodiesoyoung，andwithsomanyplansunfulfilled，buthefeltthatitwasuselesstostruggleagainstdestinyandhedrankagain。Thenheheardavoicesay，——
\"Andnow，sir，Iamallattention。\"
Helookedup。Hesawtheparlour，thegroundglassofthedoor，thetumblersandbottlesonthetable，thesharpfeaturesandstrained，farcicaleyesofMalkielframedinthematted，curlinghair。Thenallwasnotoveryet。Therewassomethingstillinstoreforhim。Hesatup，pushedthecreamingfour—shillingfoamoutofhissight，turnedtohisinterlocutor，andwithagreateffortcollectedhimself。
\"Iwanttoconsultyou，\"hebegan，\"aboutmystrangepowers。\"
Malkielsmiledwitheasyirony。
\"StrangepowersinBerkeleySquare！\"heejaculated。\"TheBerkeleySquare！Butgoon，sir。Whatarethey？\"
\"Havingbeenledtostudythestars，\"continuedtheProphetwithmorecomposureandgrowingearnestness，\"Ifeltmyselfmovedtomakeaprophecy。\"
\"Weatherforecast，Isuppose，\"remarkedMalkiel，laconically。
\"Howdidyouknowthat？\"
\"Theeasiestkind，sir，thenumberonebeginner’sprophecy。CapricornususedtotellMadamewhattheweather’dbeassoonashecouldtalk。Butgoon，sir，goon，Ibeg。\"
TheProphetbegantofeelratherlesslikeIsaiah，buthecontinued，withsomedetermination，——
\"Ifthathadbeenall，IdaresayIshouldhavethoughtverylittleofthematter。\"
\"No，youwouldn’tsir。Whothinkstheirfirstbabyalittleone？Canyoutellmethat？\"
TheProphetconsideredthequestionforamoment。Thenheanswered，——
\"Perhapsyou’reright。\"
\"Perhapsso，\"rejoinedMalkiel，indulgently。\"Well，sir，whatwasyournextattempt——intheBerkeleySquare？\"
TheProphet’ssensitivenaturewincedundertheobviousironyoftheinterrogation，buteitherthe\"creamingfoam\"hadrenderedhimdesperate，orhewastosomeextentsteeledagainstthesatirebytheawfulself—respectwhichhadinvadedhimsinceMrs。Merillia’saccident。Inanycaseheansweredfirmly，——
\"MalkieltheSecond，inBerkeleySquareIhadarelation——anhonouredgrandmother。\"
\"You’vethebetterofmethere，sir。MyparentsandMadame’sareallinBromptonCemetery。Well，sir，you’dgotanhonouredgrandmotherintheBerkeleySquare。Whatofit？\"
\"Shewasnaturallyelderly。\"
\"Andyoupredictedherdeathandshepassedover。Verynaturaltoo，sir。Thenumbertwobeginner’sprophecy。Why，Corona——\"
ButatthispointtheProphetbrokein。
\"Excuseme，\"hesaidinascandalisedvoice，\"excuseme，MalkieltheSecond，shedidnothingofthekind。Whatevermyfaultsmaybe——andtheyaremany，Iamaware——I——I——\"
Hewasgreatlymoved。
\"Takeanothersupofwine，sir。Youneedit，\"saidMalkiel。
TheProphetmechanicallydrankoncemore，graspingtheedgeofthetableforsupportintheenduranceofthefour—bobecstasy。
\"Youprophesieditandshedidn’tpassover，sir，\"continuedMalkiel，withunaffectedsympathy。\"Iunderstandtheblow。It’scruelhardwhenaprophecygoeswrong。Why，evenMadame——\"