ButatthispointtheProphetbrokein。
\"Youaremistaken，\"hecried。\"Utterlymistaken。\"
MalkieltheSeconddrewhimselfupwithdignity。
\"InthatcaseIwillsaynomore，\"heremarked，pursinguphislengthymouthandassumingacast—ironattitude。
TheProphetperceivedhismistake。
\"Forgiveme，\"heexclaimed。\"Itismyfault。\"
\"Oh，no，sir。Notatall，\"rejoinedMalkiel，withicyformality。\"Prayletthefaultbemine。\"
\"Iwillnotindeed。Butletmeexplain。Mybelovedgrandmotherstilllives，althoughIcastherhoroscopeand——\"
\"Indeed！veryremarkable！\"
\"Imean——notalthough——butIthoughtIwouldcastherhoroscope。AndI
didso。\"
\"Inthesquare？\"askedMalkiel，withquiet，butpiercing，irony。
\"Yes，\"saidtheProphet，withsuddenheat。\"Whynot？\"
Malkielsmiledwithanalmostpaternalpity，asofathoughtfulfathergazinguponthequaintandinappropriateanticsofhisvacantchild。
\"Whynot，sir——ifyoupreferit？\"herejoined。\"Prayproceed。\"
TheProphet’sfacewasflushed，eitherbythe\"creamingfoam，\"orbyirritation，orbyboth。
\"Surely，\"hebegan，inachokingvoice，\"surelythestarsarethesamewhethertheyarelookedatfromBerkeleySquareorfrom——from——orfrom\"——hesoughtpassionatelyforaviolentcontrast——\"fromNewingtonButts，\"heconcludedtriumphantly。
\"IhavenotthepleasuretohaveeverobservedmyguidesfromtheneighbourhoodoftheButts，\"saidMalkiel，serenely。\"Butprayproceed，sir。Iamallattention。Youcastyourhonouredgrandmother’shoroscope——intheBerkeleySquare。\"
TheProphetseizedhisglass，butsomeremnantsofhistatteredself—
controlstillclungtohim，andheputitdownwithoutseekingfurthermadnessfromitscontents。
\"Idid，\"hesaidfirmly，evenobstinately。\"AndIdiscovered——Isaydiscoveredthatshewasgoingtohaveanaccidentwhileonaneveningexpedition——orjauntasyoumightperhapsprefertocallit。\"
\"Ishouldcertainlycallitso——inthecaseofaladywhowasanhonouredgrandmother，\"saidMalkieltheSecondinassent。
\"Well，MalkieltheSecond，\"continuedtheProphet，recoveringhiscomposureasheapproachedhis/coup/，\"mygrandmotherdidhaveanaccident，asIforetold。\"
\"Didshehaveitinthesquare，sir？\"askedMalkiel。
\"Andwhatifshedid？\"criedtheProphetwithconsiderabletestiness。
Hewasbeginningtoconceiveaperfecthatredoftheadmirableneighbourhood，whichhehadlovedsowell。
\"Imerelyaskforinformation，sir。\"
\"Theaccidentdidtakeplaceinthesquarecertainly，andontheverynightforwhichIpredictedit。\"
MalkieltheSecondlookedverythoughtful，evenmorose。Hepouredoutanotherglassofchampagne，drankitslowlyinsips，andwhentheglasswasemptyrantheforefingerofhisrighthandslowlyroundandrounditsedge。
\"CanMadamebewrong？\"heejaculatedatlength，inamuffledvoiceofmeditation。\"CanMadamebewrong？\"
TheProphetgazedathimwithprofoundcuriosity，fascinatedbythecircularmovementoftheyellowdogskinfinger，andbytheinwardmurmur——soacutelymental——thataccompaniedit。
\"Madame？\"whisperedtheProphet，drawinghiscanechairnoiselesslyforward。
\"Ah！\"rejoinedMalkiel，gazinguponhimwithaneyewhosepupilseemedsuddenlydilatedtoamostpreternaturalsize。\"Canshehavebeenwrongallthesemanyyears？\"
\"What——whatabout？\"murmuredtheProphet。
MalkieltheSecondleanedhismattedheadinhishandsandreplied，asiftohimself，——
\"CanitbethataprophetshouldliveinBerkeleySquare——notKimmins’s\"——hereheraisedhishead，andrakedhiscompanionwithaglancethatwasalmostfierceinitsfervourofinquiry——\"notKimmins’sbut——theBerkeleySquare？\"
CHAPTERIV
THESECRETWATERSOFTHERIVERMOUSE
TothisquestiontheProphetcouldoffernoanswerotherthanabodilyone。HesilentlypresentedhimselftothegazeofMalkiel，instinctivelysquaringhisshoulders，openingouthischest，andexpandinghisnostrilsinanefforttofillaslargeaspaceintheatmosphereoftheparlouraspossible。AndMalkielcontinuedtoregardhimwiththestaringeyesofonewhosemindisseethingwithstrange，upheavingthoughtsandalarmingapprehensions。MutelytheProphetswelledandmutelyMalkielobservedhimswell，tillapointwasreachedfromwhichfurtherprogress——atleastontheProphet’spart——wasimpossible。TheProphetwasnowasbigasthestructureofhisframepermittedhimtobe，andapparentlyMalkielrealisedthefact，forhesuddenlydroppedhiseyesandexclaimed，——
\"Thismattermustbethreshedoutthoroughly，Madameherselfwouldwishitso。\"
Hepaused，drewhischairnearertotheProphet’s，tookoffagloveandcontinued，——
\"Sir，youmaybeaprophet。YoumayhaveprophesiedcorrectlyintheBerkeleySquare。Butifyouare，andifyouhave，rememberthis——thatyouhaveprovedtheself—sacrifice，theprivation，thedenial，thesubterfuge，the/mask/，andthepositionofSagittariusLodgeinitsowngroundsbesidetheRiverMouseatCramptonSt。Peter，N。——N。，I
said，sir——totallyandentirelyunnecessary。Iwillgofurther，sir，andIwillsaymore。Youhavenotonlydonethat。Youhavealsoprovedthesacredinstinctofawoman，arespectablemarriedwoman——suchaswemustallreverence——falseanddeceived。Rememberthis，sir，rememberallthis，thensearchyourselfthoroughlyandsaywhetherwhatyouhavetoldmeisstrictlytrue。\"
\"Iassureyou——\"begantheProphet，hastily。
ButMalkielsternlyinterruptedhim。
\"Searchyourself，sir，Ibeg！\"hecried。
\"Butuponmyhonour——\"
\"Hush，sir，hush！Ibeg，nay，Iinsist，thatyousearchyourselfthoroughlybeforeyouanswerthismomentousquestion。\"
TheProphetfeltratherdisposedtoaskwhetherMalkielexpectedhimtoexaminehispocketsandturnouthisboots。However，hesatstillwhileMalkieldrewoutalargegoldwatch，helditsolemnlyinhishandforacoupleofminutesandthenreturnedittothewaistcoat。
\"Now，sir，\"hesaid。
\"Iassureyou，\"saidtheProphet，\"onmyhonourthatallIhavesaidisstrictlytrue。\"
\"AndtookplaceintheBerkeleySquare？\"
\"AndtookplaceintheBerkeleySquare。\"
Malkielnoddedmorosely。
\"Itmayhavebeenchance，\"hesaid。\"Aweatherforecastandanhonouredgrandmothermayhavebeenmereluck。Stillitlooksbad——verybad。\"
Hesighedheavily，andseemedabouttofallintoamournfulreveriewhentheProphetcriedsharply，——
\"Explainyourself，MalkieltheSecond。Youoweittometoexplainyourself。Whyshouldmystrangegift——\"
\"Ifyouhaveit，sir，\"interruptedMalkiel，quickly。
\"IfIhaveit，verywell——affectyou？Whyshoulditrendertheself—
sacrificeand——andthepositionof——ofSagittariusLodgeontheriver——
theriver——whatriverdidyousay——？\"
\"TheRiverMouse，\"rejoinedMalkielinamuffledvoice，andshakinghisheadsadly。
\"Exactly——ontheRiverMouseatCrompton——\"
\"Crampton。\"
\"CramptonSt。Petertotal——\"
\"N。！\"
\"What？\"
\"CramptonSt。Peter。N。Thatisthepoint。\"
\"Verywell——CramptonSt。Peteren，totallyandentirelyunnecessary？\"
\"Youdesiremyrevelation，sir？Youdesiretoenterintothebosomofafamilythathithertohasdweltapart，haslainasImaysay/perdew/
besidethesecretwatersoftheRiverMouse？Isitindeedso？\"
\"Oh，Ibegyourpardon，\"criedtheProphet，hastily。\"Iwouldnotfortheworldintrudeupon——\"
\"Thosehallowedprecincts！Well，perhapsyouhavetheright。
Jellybrand’shasbetrayedmetoyou。Youknowmyname，myprofession。
Whyshouldyounotknowmore？Perhapsitisbetterso。\"
Withthesuddenenergyofamanwhoisrecklessoffateheseizedhisgoblet，pouredintoitatleastashilling’sworthof\"creamingfoam，\"
drainedittothedregsand，shakingbackhismattedhairwithaleoninemovementofthehead，exclaimed，——
\"MalkieltheFirst，whofoundedthe/Almanac/，lay/perdew/allhislife。\"
\"BesidethesecretwatersoftheRiverMouse？\"theProphetcouldnothelpinterposing。
\"No，sir。Hewouldneverhavegonesofarasthat。ButhelivedanddiedinSusanRoadbesidethegas—works。Hewasagreatman。\"
\"I’msurehewas，\"saidtheProphet，heartily。
\"Hewishedmetoliveanddietheretoo，\"saidMalkiel。\"Buttherearelimits，sir，eventotheforbearanceofwomen。Madamewasaffected，painfullyaffected，bythegas，sir。Itstankinhernostrils——touseafigure。Andthentherewasanotherdrawbackthatshecouldnotgetover。\"
\"Indeed！\"
\"Thesweeps，sir。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon！\"saidtheProphet。
\"Isaid——thesweeps。\"
\"Iheardyou——well？\"
\"Beingtheonlypeoplethatwerenot，inthewholeroad，madeforloneliness，sir。\"
TheProphetwasentirely/bouleverse/。
\"I’mafraidI’mverystupid，butreallyI——\"hebegan。
\"IsitpossiblethatyouliveinLondon，sir，andarenotawarethatSusanRoadliesinthemostsought—afterportionofthesweeps’
quarter？\"saidMalkiel，withpityingamazement。
TheProphetblushedwithshame。
\"Ibegyourpardon。Ofcourse——Iunderstand。Praygoon。\"
\"Itmadeforloneliness，sir。\"
\"Naturally。\"
\"Theirhourswerenotourhours。Andthentheprofessionalcolour！
MadamesaiditwaslikelivingamongtheSandwichIslanders。Andso，toanextent，itwas。Myfatherhadleftaverytidybitofmoney——averytidybitindeed，andweresolvedtomove。Butwhere？Thatwastheproblem。ForIwasnotasothermen。Icouldnotlivelikethem——intheBerkeleySquare。\"
Hesmiledwithmournfulsuperiorityandcontinued，——
\"AtleastIthoughtsothen，andhavedonetillto—day。Prophets——somyfatherbelieved，andsoMadame——mustbeconnectedwiththesuburbsorwithoutlyingdistricts。Theymustnot，indeedtheycannot，beproperlypropheticwithintheradius。Acentralatmospherewouldreducethemtotheleveloftheconjurororthemuscularsuggestionist。MalkieltheFirst，myfather，wasbornhimselfinPeckham，andmetmymotherwhencomingthroughtherye。\"
Hebrushedasideatearthatflowedatthisalmostrusticrecollection，andcontinued，——
\"YetMadamewaswishful，andIwaswishfultoo，thatthechildren——ifwehadany——shouldnotgrowupEastern。Itwasanaturalandabeautifuldesire，sir，wasitnot？\"
\"Oh，very，\"repliedtheProphet，considerablyconfused。
\"ThehabitsandmannersoftheEast，yousee，sir，arenotalwaysinstrictaccordancewithpropriety。Arethey？\"
BeforetheProphethadtimetorealisethatthisquestionwasmerelyrhetorical，hebegan，——
\"FromwhatProfessorSeligmansaysinhis/TheInnerHistoryofBaghdad/，Ifeelsure——\"
\"NorarethecustomsoftheEastquitewhatmanyaclergymanwouldapproveof，\"continuedMalkiel。\"YeteventhiswasnotwhatweighedmostwithMadame。\"
\"Whatwasitthen？\"inquiredtheProphet，deeplyinterested。
\"Sir，itwastheEasternlanguage。\"
\"Ah！\"
\"Couldweletourchildrenlearntospeakit？Couldwebeartolaunchtheminlife，handicapped，weigheddownbysuchatongue？Couldwedothis？\"
AgaintheProphetmistookthenatureofthequestion，andwasledtoreply，——
\"CertainlyEnglishchildrenspeakingonlyArabicmightwellbeatsomelossinordinaryconver——\"
\"Wecouldnot，sir。Itwasimpossible。SoweresolvedtogotothenorthofLondonandtoavoidWhitechapelatwhatevercost。\"
\"Whitechapel！\"almostcriedtheProphet。
\"Thisdeterminationitwas，sir，thateventuallyledourstepstothebordersoftheRiverMouse。\"
\"Oh，really！\"
\"Youknowit，sir？\"
\"Notpersonally。\"
\"Butbyrepute，ofcourse？\"
\"Nodoubt，nodoubt，\"stammeredtheProphet，whohadinfactneverbeforeheardofthiscelebratedflood。
\"Thatpoorgoverness，sir，lastAugust——yourecollect？\"
\"Ah，indeed！\"murmuredtheProphet，atrifleincoherently。
\"Andthenthemadundertakerintheautumn，\"continuedMalkiel，withconsciouspride；\"hefloatedpastourverydoor。\"
\"Didhereally？\"
\"Singinghisswansong，nodoubt，poorfeller，asMadamesaidaftershereadaboutitinthepaper。Therewerethegrocer’stwinsaswell，justlately。Buttheywillbefreshinyourmemory。\"
BeforetheProphethadtimetostatewhetherthiswassoornotMalkielproceeded，——
\"Well，sir，assoonasMadameandIhadcometotheMouseweresolvedthatwecoulddonobetterthanthat。Itwassalubrious，itwasretired，anditwasN。\"
\"Yousaid——？\"
\"N。，sir。\"
\"Butwhatisen？\"
\"Sir？\"
TheProphethadgrownveryred，buthewasseizedbythedesperationthatoccasionallyattacksignorance，andrendersit，foramoment，determinedlyexplicit。
\"Iaskyouwhatdoesenmean？Iam，Ifear，averyill—informedperson，andIreallydon’tknow。\"
\"Thinkofanenvelope，sir，\"saidMalkiel，withgentlecommiseration。
\"Well，areyouthinking？\"
TheProphetgrewpurple。
\"Iam——butitisnouse。Besides，whyonearthshouldIthinkofanenvelope？Ibegyoutoexplain。\"
\"North，sir，thenorthernpostaldistrictofthemetropolis。Fairlysimplethat——Ithink，sir。\"
\"N。！\"criedtheilluminatedProphet。\"Isee。Iwasthinkingofenallthetime。Ibegyourpardon。Pleasegoon。N。——ofcourse！\"
Malkielconcealedasmile，justsufficientlytomakeitsexistenceforaninstantvitallyprominent，andcontinued，——
\"BytheMouseweresolvedtobuildadetachedresidencesuchaswouldinfluencesuitablythemindsofthechildren——shouldwehaveany。Forwehadresolved，sir，bythattimethatwithmethe/Almanac/shouldcease。\"
HereMalkielleanedforwarduponthedealtableandloweredhisvoicetoanimpressivewhisper。
\"Yes，sir，ithadcometothat。Weallhaveourambitionsandthatwasmine。\"
\"GoodHeavens！\"saidtheProphet。\"Malkiel’s/Almanac/cease！Butwhy？
Suchaveryusefulinstitution！\"
\"Useful！Morethanthat，sir，sublime！There’snothinglikeit。\"
\"Thenwhyletitcease？\"
\"Becausethesocialstatusoftheprophet，sir，isnotagreeabletomyselforMadame。I’vehadenoughofit，sir，already，andI’mbarelyturnedoffifty。Besides，myfatherwouldhavewishedit，Ifeelsure，hadhelivedinthesedays。HadheseenSagittariusLodge，thechildren，andhowMadamecomportsherself，hewouldhaverecognisedthatthefamilywasdestinedtoriseintoahigherspherethanthatoccupiedbyanyprophet，howeverefficient。Besides，Iwillnotdeceiveyou，Ihavemademoney。Inanothertenyears’time，whenIhavelaidbysufficient，Itellyoustraight，sir，thatIshallgooutofprophecy，rightoutofit。\"
\"ThenyourCapricor——thatisyourson——willnotcarryonthe——\"
\"Capricornusaprophet，sir！\"criedMalkiel。\"NotifMadameandIknowit。No，sir，Capricornusistobeanarchitect。\"
AsMalkielpronouncedthelastwordsheflunghisblackovercoatwideopenwithanamplegesture，thrustonehandintohisbreast，andassumedthefixedandfar—seeinggazeofamaninacabinetphotograph。
Heseemedlosttohissurroundings，andraptbysomegreatvisionofenchantedarchitects，busyindrawingplansofthemagicbuildingsofthefutureages。TheProphetfeltthatitwouldbeimpioustodisturbhim。Malkiel’sreveriewaslong，andindeedthetwoprophetsmightwellhavebeensittinginJellybrand’sparlournow，hadnotaviolentsneezecalledforthepinkassistanceoftheflightofstorks，andbroughtthesneezerdowntothelevelofordinaryhumanity。
\"Yes，sir——IgiveyoumywordCapricornusistobeanarchitect，\"
repeatedMalkiel。\"Whatdoyousaytothat？\"
\"Isit——isitreallyabetterprofessionthanthatofprophecy？\"askedtheProphet，rathernervously。
Malkielsmiledmournfully。
\"Sir，itmaynotbemorelucrative，butitismoreselect。Madamewillnotmixwithprophets，butshehasa’day，’sir，onthebanksoftheMouse，andshehasgatheredaroundheraverypleasantandselectlittlecircle。\"
\"Indeed。\"
\"Yes，sir。Architectsandtheirwives。Youunderstand？\"
\"Quite，\"rejoinedtheProphet，\"quite。\"
UnderthemesmericinfluenceofMalkielhebegantofeelasifarchitectsweresomestrangeraceofsacredbeingssetapart，denizensofsomeholyisleorblessednookofmediaevallegend。Wouldheevermeetthem？WouldheeverencounteronerangingunfetteredwhereflowedthewatersoftheRiverMouse？
\"Theydonotknowwhoweare，sir，\"continuedMalkiel，furtively。\"Tothemandtothewholeworld——exceptingJellybrand’sandyou——wearetheSagittariusesofSagittariusLodge，peopleatease，sir，livinguponourcompetencebesidetheMouse。Theydonotseethetelescope，sir，inthelockedstudioatthetopofthelodge。Theydonotknowwhysometimes，onMadame’s’Wednesdays，’Iampale——withsittinguponbehalfofthe/Almanac/。ForCapricornus’ssakeandforCorona’sallthisishidfromtheworld。MadameandIarethevictimsofadoublelife。Yes，sir，forthechildren’ssakewehaveneverdaredtoletitbeknownwhatIreallyam。\"
Suddenlyhebegantogrowexcited。
\"Andnow，\"hecried，\"afteralltheseyearsofsecrecy，afteralltheseyearsofavoidingthecentraldistricts——inwhichMadamelongstolive——afteralltheseyearsofseclusionbeyondthebeatevenofthebuses，doyoucomeheretome，andsearchyourselfandsayuponyouroaththataprophetcanliveandbeaprophetintheBerkeleySquare，thathecanreadthestarswithGunter’sjustopposite，ay，andbringoutanalmanacifhelikeswithinashillingfareoftheCircus？Ifthisisso\"——hestruckthedealtableviolentlywithhisclenchedfist——\"ofwhatusearethesacrificesofmyselfandMadame？OfwhatuseisittoliveunderamodestnamesuchasSagittarius，whenImightbeMalkieltheSecondtothewholeworld？OfwhatusetofleefromW。anddwellperpetuallyinN。？Why，ifwhatyousayistrue，wemightleavetheMouseto—morrowandMadamecouldpopinandoutoftheStoresjustlikeanyladyofpleasure。\"
AtthethoughtofthissolongforegoneenchantmentMalkiel’semotioncompletelyovercamehim，hisvoicediedaway，overbornebyaviolentfitofchoking，andhesatbackinhiscanechairtremblingineverylimb。TheProphetwasdeeplymovedbyhisemotion，andlongedmostsincerelytoassuageit。Buthisdeepandgrowingconvictionofhisownpowerrenderedhimuselessasacomforter。Hecouldnotlie。Hecouldnotdenythathewasaprophet。Hecouldonlysay，inhisfirmestvoice，——
\"MalkieltheSecond，bebrave。Youmustseethisthingthrough。\"
OnhearingtheseoriginalandnoblewordsMalkiellifteduphismarredcountenance。
\"Iknowit，sir，Iknowit，\"heanswered。\"Onemoment。ThethoughtofMadame——theStores——I——ofallthatmightperhapshavebeen——\"
Hechokedagain。TheProphetlookedaway。Astrongman’semotionisalwaysveryscaredandveryterrible。Threeminutessweptby，thentheProphetheardacalmandhollowvoicesay，——
\"Andnow，sir，tobusiness。\"
TheProphetlookedup，andperceivedthatMalkiel’sovercoatwastightlybuttonedandthathismouthwastightlysetinanexpressionofindomitable，thoughtragic，resolution。
\"Whatbusiness？\"askedthePropet。
\"Mine，\"repliedMalkiel。\"Mine，sir，andyours。Youhavechosentoentermylife。Youcannotdenythat。YoucannotdenythatIsoughttoavoid——Imightevensaytododgeyou。\"
WiththeremembranceoftherecentcircusperformanceinthelibrarystillstronguponhimtheProphetcouldnot。Hebowedhishead。
\"Verywell，sir。Youhavechosentoentermylife。Thatacthasgivenmetherighttoenteryours。AmIcorrect？\"
\"Isuppose——Imean——yes，youare，\"answeredtheProphet，overwhelmedbythepitilesslogicofhiscompanion，andwonderingwhatwascomingnext。
\"Ihavebeenforced——IthinkImaysaythat——torevealmyselftoyou，sir。Nothingcaneveralterthat。Nothingcanevertakefromyoutheknowledge——deniedbyMadametotheveryarchitects——ofwhoIreallyam。
Youhavetoldme，sir，thatImustseethisthingthrough。Itellyounow，atthistable，inthisparlour，thatIintendtoseeitthrough——
andthrough。\"
AsMalkielsaidthelastwordshegazedattheProphetwitheyesthatseemedsuddenlytohavetakenonthepeculiarpropertiesofthegimlet。
TheProphetbegantofeelextremelyuneasy。Buthesaidnothing。Hefeltthattherewasmoretocome。Andhewasright。
\"Itismyduty，\"continuedMalkiel，inaloudervoice，\"mysacreddutytoMadame——tosaynothingofCoronaandCapricornus——toprobeyoutothecore\"——heretheProphetcouldnotresistastartledmovementofprotest——\"andtosearchyoutothequick。\"
\"Oh，really！\"criedtheProphet。
\"ThisdutyIshallcarryoutunflinchingly，\"pursuedMalkiel，\"atwhatevercosttomyself。Thiswillnotbeourlastinterview。Donotthinkit。\"
\"Iassureyou，\"insertedtheProphet，endeavouringvainlytoseematease，\"Idonotwishtothinkit。\"
\"Itmatterslittlewhetheryouwishtodosoornot，\"continuedMalkiel，withanincreasinglyJuggernautair。\"ThesonofMalkieltheFirstisnotamantobetrifledwithordodged。Moreover，muchmorethanthefutureofmyselfandfamilydependsuponwhatyoureallyare。
Fromthisdayforthyouwillbeboundupwiththe/Almanac/。\"
\"MercifulHeavens！\"ejaculatedtheProphet，unable，intrepidashewas，toavoidrecoilingwhenhefoundhimselfthussuddenlyconfrontedwiththefateofanappendix。
\"Forwhyshoulditevercease？\"proceededMalkiel，withgrowingpassion。\"Why——ifaprophetcanlive，asyoudeclare，freelyandopenlyintheBerkeleySquare？Ifthisisso，whyshouldInotremove，alongwithMadameandfamily，fromthebordersoftheMouseandresidehenceforthinacentralsituationsuchasIshouldwishtoresidein？
WhyshouldnotCapricornuseventuallysucceedmeinthe/Almanac/asI
succeededMalkieltheFirst？Alreadytheboyshowstheleaningsofaprophet。HithertoMadameandIhaveendeavouredtostiflethem，toturntheminanarchitecturaldirection。Youunderstand？\"
\"Iamtryingto，\"stammeredtheProphet。
\"Hithertowehavecorrectedtheboy’stablemannerswhentheyhavebecometoolikethoseoftheaverageprophet——astheyoftenhave——forhithertowehavehadreasontobelievethatallprophets——withtheexceptionofmyself——weredirty，deceitfulandessentiallysuburbanpersons。Butifyouareaprophetwehavebeendeceived。Trustme，sir，Ishallfindspeedymeanstopierceyoutotheverymarrow。\"
TheProphetbeganmechanicallytofeelforhishat。
\"Areyoudesirousofanything，sir？\"saidMalkiel，sharply。
\"No，\"saidtheProphet，wonderingwhetherthemomenthadarrivedtothrowoffallfurtherpretenceofbraveryandtoshoutboldlyfortheassistanceoftheyounglibrarian。
\"Thenwhyareyoufeelingabout，sir？Whyareyoufeelingabout？\"
\"WasI？\"falteredtheProphet。
\"Youarelookingforanotherglassofwine，perhaps？\"
\"No，indeed，\"saidtheProphet，desperately。\"Foranythingbutthat。\"
ButMalkiel，movedbysomeabruptlyformedresolution，calledsuddenlyinapowerfulvoice，——