\"IdidnottakeobservationsofVenusfirst，\"answeredtheProphet，withacertainproudreserve。\"Ibeganbyanexaminationinto’TheMilkyWay。’\"
SirTiglathimpoundedanothercrumpet。
\"Goon，youngman，\"hecried。\"Theoldastronomerlendethear。\"
TheProphet，whofeltverymuchlikeanervousundergraduateundergoinga/viva—voce/examination，continued，——
\"Ibecamedeeplyinterested，stronglyattractedbythe——theheavenlybodies。Theyfascinatedme。Icouldthinkofnothingelse。\"
LadyEnid’sScottishlipstightenedalmostimperceptibly。
\"Icouldtalkofnothingelse，\"proceededtheProphet。\"CouldI，grannie？\"
\"No，indeed，Hennessey，\"assentedMrs。Merillia。\"Allothertopicswerebanishedfromdiscussion。\"
\"All，\"criedtheProphet，withincreasingfervourandlackofself—
consciousness。\"Icouldnottearmyselffromthetelescope。Ilongedforaperpetualnightandfoundthedayalmostintolerablyirksome。\"
SirTiglath’sbrick—redcountenancewasirradiatedwithasmilethatdidnotlackgeniality。
\"Theoldastronomerlendethattentiveeartotheyoungman’sepic，\"heroared，throughthecrumpet。\"Heapproveththeyoungman’sadmirationfortheheavenlybodies。Goon。\"
ButatthelastcommandtheProphetseemedsuddenlytojib。Thereservedexpressionreturnedtohisface。
\"That’sall，SirTiglath，\"hesaid。
TheastronomerandMrs。MerilliaagainexchangedaglancewhichwasnotunobservedbyLadyEnid。ThenSirTiglath，withanabruptandportentousgravity，exclaimedinthunderoustones，——
\"Sir，areyouamanofscienceorhaveyouthebrainofacharlatanenclosedinthefleshyenvelopeofaconjurerandasinner？Doyoustudythenobleandbeautifulstarsfortheirownsakestofindoutwhattheyare，andwhattheyaredoing，whatistheirnatureandwhattheirplaceinthegreatscheme，ordoyoupeekandpryatthemthroughthekeyholeofacontemptiblecuriosityinordertodiscoverwhatyouthinktheycandoforyou，tosetyouonhigh，topuffyououtintoapersonageandcauseyoutobenoticedofthefoolishonesofthisworld？Whichareyou，sir，ayoungmanofpartswhosehandIcangraspfraternally，oraninsulterofplanets，sir，aPeepingTomuponthegloriousnudityofVenus，aPaulPrysquintingatthemysteriesofMercuryforanunholyand，whatismore，anidioticpurpose？Whatdoyouaskofthestars，sir？Telltheoldastronomerthat！\"
TheProphetwasconsiderablytakenabackbythistirade，whichcausedthemanyornamentsintheprettyroomtotremble。Hegazedathisgrandmother，andfoundhernoddingapprovalofSirTiglath。HeglancedatLadyEnid。Shewasleaningbackinherchairandlookingamused，likeapersonatanentertainment。
\"WhatdoIask，SirTiglath？\"hemurmuredinsomeconfusion。
\"Doyouaskaboutyourreverentgranddam’shallowedankles，sir？Doyouafflictthestarswithinquiriesaboutthestateoftheridiculousweather？Isthatit？\"
TheProphetunderstoodthatMrs。Merilliahadbeenfrankwiththeastronomer。Hecastuponheraglanceofrespectfulreproach。
\"Yes，Hennessey，\"sheanswered，\"Ihave。Mydearchild，Ithoughtitforthebest。Thispropheticbusinesswouldsoonhavebeenturningthehouseupsidedown，andatmyageI’mreallynotequaltolivingatclosequarterswithadeterminedyoungprophet。Todosowouldupsetthehabitsofalifetime。SoSirTiglathknowsallaboutit。\"
Therewasamomentofsilence，whichwasbrokenbytheagreeablevoiceofLadyEnidsaying，——
\"Allaboutwhat？Remember，please，thatI’mayoungwomanandthatallyoungwomenshareonequality。Allaboutwhat，please？\"
Mrs。MerillialookedattheProphet。TheProphetlookedatSirTiglath，whowaggedhisgreatheadandcried，withrollingpathosandrebuke，——
\"Oh—h—h—h！\"
\"Please——Mr。Vivian！\"repeatedLadyEnid，withconsiderabledetermination。
\"GranniemeansthatI——that——well，thatIhavebeenenabledbythestarstoforetellcertainfutureevents，\"saidtheProphet，glancingratherfurtivelyatSirTiglathwhilehespoke，tonotetheeffectofthedesperatedeclaration。\"
\"Oh—h—h—h！\"bellowedthedistressedastronomer，shakinglikeajellyinhiswrath。
\"What？\"criedLadyEnid，inanalmostpiercingvoice，andwithamannerthathadsuddenlybecomemostanimated。\"What——likeMalkiel’s/Almanac/
does？\"
ThisremarkhadaverystrikingeffectuponSirTiglath，aneffectindeedsostrikingthatitheldMrs。Merillia，LadyEnidandtheProphetinaconditionofparalyticexpectationforatleastthreeminutesbythegrandmother’sclockinthecornerofthedrawing—room。
Thevenerableastronomerwasalreadyverystoutinpersonandveryinflamedinappearance。Butatthispointinthediscoursehesuddenlybecamesoverymuchstouterandsoverymuchmoreinflamed，thathisaudienceofthreegazeduponhimratheraslittlechildrengazeupondoughwhichhasbeensetbythecookto\"rise\"andwhichisfulfillingitsmissionwithanunexpected，andindeedintemperate，vivacity。Theireyesgrewround，theirfeaturesrigid，theirhandstense，theirattitudesexpectant。Leaningforward，theystareduponSirTiglathwithanunwinkingfixityandpreternaturaldeterminationthatwasalmostentirelyinfantine。Andwhiletheydidsohecontinuedslowlytoexpandinsizeandtodeepenincolouruntilmortalityseemedtodropfromhim。Heceasedtobeamanandbecameaphenomenon，apurplethingthatjourneyedtowardssomeunutterableend，portentousasmarchingjudgment，tragicasfate，searchingasepidemic，andyetheavilypaintedandgenerallytouchedupbythebrushofsomehumorousdemon，suchaslaysabouthiminpreparationforChristmaspantomime，sworntoprovidethegiants’facesandtheogres’headsforDruryLane。
\"Don’t！\"atlastcriedayoungvoice。\"Don’t，SirTiglath！\"
Apealoflaughterfollowedtheremark，ofthatlaughterwhichisloudandyetentirelywithoutthesavinggraceofmerriment，ameresuddendemonstrationofhysteria。
\"Oh，SirTiglath——don’t！\"
Asecondlaughjoinedthefirstandrangupwithit，older，butalsohysterical——Mrs。Merillia’s。
\"No，no——pleasedon’t，SirTig——Tig——\"
Athirdlaughburstintothering，seemingtocompleteitfatally——theProphet’s。
\"SirTiglath——forHeaven’ssake——don’t！\"
Theadjurationcamefromatrioofchokedvoices，andmighthavegivenpauseeventoadescendingliftorotherinflexibleandblindmachine。
Butstilltheastronomergrewsteadilymoregiganticinpersonandmorelikethegodofwineinhue。Thethreevoicesfailed，andtheterrible，unitedlaughterwasjustuponthepointofbreakingforthagainwhenadiversionoccurred。Thedoorofthedrawing—roomwassoftlyopened，andMrs。FancyQuingletappeareduponthethreshold，holdinginherhandsanice—woolshawlforthecomfortofhermistress。Itchancedthatasthephenomenonoftheastronomerwasbaseduponalargeelbowchairexactlyfacingthedoorshewasinstantlyandfullyconfrontedbyit。
Shedidnotdroptheshawl，asanyordinarymaidwouldmostprobablyhavedone。Mrs。Fancywasnotofthatkidney。Shedidnoteventurntail，orgiveamonth’swarningorascream。Shewasofthosewomenwho，whentheymeettheinevitable，instinctivelyseemtorecognisethatitdemandscourageasamannerandtruthasagreeting。She，therefore，staredstraightatSirTiglath——muchasshestaredatMrs。
Merilliawhenshewasabouttoarrangethatlady’swigforanassembly——andremarkedinadecisive，thoughveryrespectful，toneofvoice，——
\"Thegentleman’sabouttoburst，ma’am。Ican’tspeakdifferentnormeanother。\"
Uponfindingtheirthoughtsthusdeftlygatheredupandwovenintoamoderatelygrammaticalsentence，Mrs。Merillia，LadyEnidandtheProphetexperiencedasenseofextraordinaryrelief，andnolongerfeltthesternnecessityoflaughing。ButthiswasnotthemiracleworkedbyMrs。Fancy。Hadshe，eventhen，restedsatisfiedwithheracumen，maintainedsilenceandawaitedtheimmediatefulfilmentofherprediction，whatmusthavehappenedcanhardlybeindoubt。Butshewasseizedbythatexcessofbraverywhichiscalledfoolhardiness，anddrivenbyittothatpeculiarandthoughtlessvehemenceofactionwhichsometimeswinsV。C。’sformenwho，inlaterdays，concealamazementunderthecherisheddecoration。Shesuddenlylaiddowntheice—woolshawluponaneighbouringsociable，walkeduptothephenomenonoftheastronomer，andremarkedtoitwithgreatdistinctness，——
\"You’reabouttoburst，sir。Iknowit，sir，andIcan’tknowother。\"
Atthispointthemiraclehappened，for，insteadofrespondingtothelady’s—maid’sappeal，andpromptlydisintegratingintohisrespectiveatoms，SirTiglathsuddenlybecamecomparativelysmallandcomparativelypale，satforward，waggedhisheadatMrs。Fancy，andrumbledoutinhisordinaryvoice，——
\"Haveyouneverheardwhereliarsgoto，woman？Oh—h—h—h！\"
Onfindingthatnothingofsupremehorrorwasabouttohappen，Mrs。
Fancy’scourage——asisthewayofwoman’scourage——forsookher，shebrokeintotears，andhadtobeimmediatelyledforthtotheservant’shallbytheProphet，exclaimingpersistentlywitheverysteptheytook，——
\"Ican’thelpit，MasterHennessey。IsayagainasIsaidafore——thegentleman’sabouttoburst。Themthatknowsotherletthemdeclareit。\"
\"Yes，yes。It’sallright，Fancy，it’sallright。Weallagreewithyou。Now，now，youmustn’tcry。\"
\"Ican’t——know——other，MasterHennessey，nor——meandifferent。Ican’tindeed，MasterHennessey，Ican’t——knowother——nor——\"
\"No，no。Ofcoursenot。There，sitdownandcomposeyourself。\"
Hegavethepoor，afflictedliartenderlyintothecareoftheupperhousemaid，andretracedhisstepsquicklytothedrawing—room。AsheentereditheheardSirTiglathsaying，——
\"ThestarsintheircoursestremblewhentheaccursednameofMalkielismentioned，andtheoldastronomerisdissolvedinwrathatsoundoftheperniciousword。Oh—h—h—h！\"
\"There，Hennessey！\"criedMrs。Merillia，turningswiftlytohergrandsonwithallhercapribandsfluttering。\"YouhearwhatSirTiglathsays？\"
\"Ifthataccursednamebelongedtoanindividual，\"continuedtheastronomer，wavinghishandsfranticallyoverthelastremainingcrumpet，\"insteadofrepresentingasyndicateofruffianlyundergroundcriminals，theoldastronomer，wellstrickeninyearsthoughhebe，wouldhunthimoutofhishiding—placeandslayhimwithhisownfeebleandscientifichands。\"
Sosaying，hegraspedthecrumpetasifithadbeenanassegai，andassailedhimselfwithitsoviolentlythatitentirelydisappeared。
\"ButMalkielisan——\"beganMrs。Merillia。
TheProphetstoppedherwithaglance，whosealmostterror—strickenauthoritysurprisedherintosilence。
\"ButIthoughtMalkielwasaman，\"criedLadyEnid，lookingtowardstheProphet。
\"He——forIwillnotfoulmylipswiththeaccursedname——isnotaman，\"
roaredSirTiglath。\"Heisasyndicate。Heisacompany。Hemeetstogether，doubtless，insomelowdenofthecity。Hereadsreportstohimselfoftheill—gottengainsaccruingfromhisrepeatedinsultstotheheavensroundsomeabominabletablecoveredwithgreencloth。Hequotesthepricesofthesharesinhim，anddeclaresdividends，andcarriesbalancesforward，andsomedaywillwindhimselfuporcasthimselfanewuponthemercyofthemarket。PartofhimisprobablyJew，partSouthAfricanandpartAmerica。Thewholeofhimisthriceaccursed。\"
Hebegantoexpandoncemore，butMrs。Merilliaperceivedthetendencyandcheckeditintime。
\"Pray，SirTiglath，\"shesaidalmostseverely，\"don’t。WithmysprainedankleIamreallynotequaltoit。\"
SirTiglathhadenoughchivalrytostop，andLadyEnidonceagainchippedin。
\"But，really，I’malmostsureMalkielisa——\"
ShecaughttheProphet’seye，asMrs。Merilliahad，andpaused。Heturnedtotheastronomer。
\"Buthowcanacompanymakeitselfintoaprophet？\"heasked。
\"Youngman，youtalkidly！Whatarecompaniesformedforifnottomakeprofits？\"retortedSirTiglath。\"Everyoneisacompanynowadays。Don’tyouknowthat？Murchison，thefamouswriterofnovels，isacompany。
Jeremy，theactor—manager，isacompany。SoisBynionthequackdoctor，andtheRev。Mr。Kinnimerwhosuppliestractstotheupperclasses，andUptontheartist，whosepicturesmaketourslikeSarahBernhardt，andWatkins，whosephilosophysellsmorethanTupper’s，andCarolineJingo，whowriteswarpoemsandpatrioticodes。Ifyouweretoinvitethesesupposedsevenpersonstodinner，andallofthemcame，youwouldhavetolaycoversforatleastfiftyscoundrels。Oh—h—h—h！\"
\"Well，buthowareyousurethat——ahem——the/Almanac/personisalsoplural，SirTiglath？\"inquiredMrs。Merillia。
\"BecauseIsoughthimwiththefirmintentionofassaultandbatteryforfive—and—fortyyears，\"returnedtheastronomer。\"AndonlygaveupmyChristianquestwhenIwasassured，onexcellentauthority，thathewasacompany，andhadoriginallybeenformedintheUnitedStatesforthemakingofmoneyandthedefianceoftheheavenlybodies。Maybullsandbearsdestroyhim！\"
\"Well，it’sveryodd，\"saidLadyEnid。\"Veryoddindeed。\"
AsshespokesheglancedattheProphetandmethiseyes。Therearemomentswhenthemereexpressioninanotherperson’seyesseemstoshoutarequestatone。TheexpressionintheProphet’seyesperformedthisfeatatthismoment，withsuchabruptvehemence，thatLadyEnidfeltalmostdeafened。Sheleanedbackinherchair，asifavoidingamissile，andexclaimed，——
\"Ofcourse！AndIneverguessedit！\"
\"Guessedwhat，mydear？\"inquiredMrs。Merillia。
\"Why，that——he——it——wasacompany，\"repliedLadyEnid。
TheProphetblessedandthankedherwithapiercingandsavedlook。
\"NorI，\"heassented，descendingintotheverymineofsubterfugeforhisrecentoath’ssake，\"norI，orIshouldneverhavetakentheuselesstroublethatIhavetaken。
Hemanagedtosaythiswithsuchconvictionthathisgrandmother，who，inthepast，hadalwaysfoundhimtobetransparentlyhonestandsincere，wascarriedawaybythedeception。Shewrinkledherlongnose，aswasherhabitwhensincerelypleased，andcriedgaily，——
\"Then，Hennessey，nowyou’veheardSirTiglath’sopinionofthepracticeoftryingtoturnthestarsintomoney—makers，andtheplanetsintooldgipsywomenwhotellfortunestosillyservantgirls，I’msureyou’llneverstudythemagain。Come，promiseme！\"
TheProphetmadenoanswer。
\"Hennessey，\"criedhisgrandmother，withtenderpertinacity，\"promiseme！SirTiglath，joinyourvoicetomine！\"
SirTiglathhadbecomereallygrave，nottheatricallyserious。
\"Youngman，\"hesaid，\"yourreveredgranddamasksofyouarighteousthing。Whoareyoutotriflewiththoseshiningworldsthatmakeabeautyofthenightandthatstireternityinthesoulofman？WhoareyoutoglueyourpinpointofahumaneyetoyondermachineandplaywiththestupendousJupiterandSaturnasachildplayswithmarblesorwithpeg—tops？Whoareyouthatthinksthoseglitteringmonstershavenothingtodobuttoinformyourpigmybrainofsnowfalls，streetaccidents，andlove—affairsprematurely，sothatyoumayflauntaboutyourpocket—handkerchiefofasquareplumingyourdwarfshipthatyouareaprophet？Fie，youngman，andagainfie！Bowtheknee，asIdo，tothemysteriesofthegreatuniversalscheme，insteadofbotheringthemtoturninformersand’giveaway’theknowledgewhichisdeliberatelyhiddenfromus。Showmeamanthatcanunderstandthepresentandyou’llhaveshownmeagod。Andyetyouknockatthegatesoftheheavensthroughthattelescopeandclamourtobetoldthefuture！Fieuponyou，youngman，fie！Oh—h—h—h！\"
NowtheProphet，ashasbeenbeforeobserved，possessedaverysensitivenature。Hewasalsoverydevotedtohisgrandmother，andhadanextraordinaryreverencefortheworld—famedattainmentsofSirTiglathButt。Therefore，whenheheardMrs。Merillia’spleading，andtheastronomer’sweightydenunciation，hewasdeeplymoved。
Nevertheless，sostronglyhadrecenteventsappealedtohiscuriosity，soardentlydidhedesiretosearchintotherealityofhisownpeculiarpowers，thatitisverydoubtfulwhetherhemightnothavewithstoodboththebehestsofaffectionandofadmirationhaditnotbeenthattheytooktothemselvesanally，whoseforceisoneofthemovingspiritsoftheworld。Thisallywasfear。JustastheProphetwasbeginningtofeelobstinateandtosteelhimselftoresistance，herememberedthefierceandhorriblethreatsofMalkieltheSecond。Ifheshouldceasetoconcernhimselfwiththestars，ifheshouldceasetoprophesy，notaloneshouldherestorepeacetohisbelovedgrandmother，andpaythetributeofrespecttoSirTiglath，butheshoulddomore。
Heshouldpreservehisquickfrombeingsearchedandhiscorefrombeingprobed。Hismarrow，too，wouldberescuedfromthepiercingithadbeensodevoutlypromised。Thedread，bywhichhewasnowcompanioned——ofMalkiel，ofthatportentousandunseenladywhodweltbesidethesecretwatersoftheMouse，ofthoseimaginedoffshootsoftheprophetictree，CoronaandCapricornus——thiswoulddropaway。Hewouldbefreeoncemore，light—hearted，ahappyandmildlyintellectualmanofthetown，emergedfromthethrallofbogies，andfrombeneaththeyokewhichhealreadyfeltlaiduponhisshouldersbythoseaugustcreatureswhowerethecentreofthearchitecturalcircle。
AllthesethingssuddenlypresentedthemselvestotheProphet’smindwithextraordinaryvividnessandforce。Hisresolvewastakeninamoment，and，turningtohiseagergrandmotherandtothestillslightlyinflatedastronomer，heexclaimedwithoutfurtherhesitation，——
\"Verywell。I’llgiveitup。Ipromiseyou。\"
Mrs。Merilliaclappedhermittenstogetheralmostlikeagirl。
\"Thankyou，SirTiglath，\"shecried。\"Iknewyouwouldpersuadethedearboy。\"
Theastronomerbeamedliketherisingsun。
\"Letthemorningstars——freedfrominsult——singtogether！\"heroared。
TheProphetglancedtowardsLadyEnid。Shewaslookingalmostnarrowandnotatallpleased。She，andallherfamily，hadahabitofsuddenlyappearingthinnerthanusualwhentheywereputout。ThishabithaddescendedtothemfromaremoteHighlandancestor，whohadperishedofstarvationandbeenveryvexedaboutit。TheProphetfeltsurethatshedidnotapplaudhisresolution，buthecouldnotdiscussthematterwithherinpublic，andshenowgotup——lookingalmostlikeaskeleton——andsaidthatshemustgo。SirTiglathimmediatelyrolledupoutofhischairandroaredthathewouldaccompanyher。
\"Theoldastronomerwillprotecttheinjudiciousyoungfemale，\"heexclaimed，\"lestshewanderforthintoaccursedplaces。\"
\"I’monlygoingtoHillStreet，\"saidLadyEnid，rathersnappishly。
\"Cometoseemeto—morrowatthree，\"shewhisperedtotheProphetasshetookhishand。\"Wemusthaveatalk。Don’ttellanybody！\"
TheProphetnoddedsurreptitiously。Hefeltthatshewascurioustoherfinger—tipsashegentlypressedthem。
Whenheandhisgrandmotherwerealonetogetherherangthedrawing—
roombell。Mr。Ferdinandappeared。
\"Mr。Ferdinand，\"saidtheProphet，\"kindlycallGustavustoyouraidandtakeawaythetelescope。\"
\"Sir！\"saidMr。Ferdinandingreatastonishment。
\"Takeawaythetelescope。\"
\"Certainly，sir。Whereshallweplaceit，sir？\"
\"Anywhere，\"saidtheProphet。\"Inthepantry——thesquare——inPiccadillyifyoulike——it’sallthesametome。\"
And，unabletotrusthimselftosaymore，hehurriedalmosttumultuouslyfromtheroom。
\"Here’sago，Gustavus，\"remarkedMr。Ferdinandamomentlaterasheenteredtheservants’hall。
\"Where，Mr。Ferdinand？\"repliedGustavus，glancingupfromadishofteaandacoupleofWorthingshrimpswithwhichhewassolacinganidlemoment。
\"Here，inthismansion，Gustavus。Meandyou’vegottotakethetelescopeoutofthedrawing—room，andMasterHennesseysaysifwewishwecanchuckitinPiccadilly。\"
TheroundeyesofGustavusbrightened。
\"Thatismywish，Mr。Ferdinand，\"heexclaimed。\"Here’salark！\"
Hesprangup。ButMr。Ferdinandcheckedhisveryagreeablevivacity。
\"Iamyourhead，Gustavus，\"heremarked，withsevereambiguity，\"andmasterhavingalsosaidthat，ifwewish，wecansettheinstrumentinthebutler’spantry，Ihavedecidedthatsoitshallmoreoverbe。Itwillbeveryusefultousthere。\"
\"Useful，Mr。Ferdinand！However——？\"
\"Nevermind，Gustavus，nevermind，\"repliedMr。Ferdinandwithsomeacrimony。
Beingofadignifiednaturehedidnotcaretoexplaintoasubordinatethattherewasaverypleasant—lookingsecond—cookjustarrivedatthehouseoftheLordChancellorontheoppositesideofthesquare。
CHAPTERVII
THEDOUBLELIFEOFMISSMINERVA
Onthefollowingday，justastheProphetwasdrawingonanewpairofsuedeglovespreparatorytosettingouttoHillStreet，Gustavusenteredwithasilversalver。
\"Atelegramforyou，sir，\"hesaid。
TheProphettooktheblushingenvelope，rippeditgentlyopen，andreadasfollows：——
\"Madameandselfmustconferwithyouthisafternoonwithoutfail。
Shallbewithyoufivesharp；mostimportant。
JUPITERSAGITTARIUS。\"
GustavusnearlydroppedatsightofthewrinklesthatseamedtheProphet’susuallysmoothfaceashegraspedthefullmeaningofthisportentousmissive。
\"Anyanswer，sir？\"
Thewrinklesincreasedandmultiplied。
\"Anyreply，sir？\"
\"What——no。\"
Gustavusglidedinawell—trainedmannertowardsthedoor。WhenhegottheretheProphetcried，rathersharply，——
\"Stopamoment！\"
Gustavusstopped。