Mr。Ferdinandcastaglanceofrespectful，butunlimited，horrorupontheProphet’sguestsandretired，whiletheProphet，callinguponallhismanhood，turnedtoMr。Sagittarius。
\"IregretmorethanIcansaythatIshallbeobligednowtoobeymygrandmother’ssummons，\"hesaidcourteously。\"Supposewedeferthis——
thispleasantlittlediscussiontosomefutureoc——\"
\"Impossible，sir！\"criedMr。Sagittarius。\"Quiteimpossible。Youmustgettoworkto—night，andhowcanyoudoitwithoutyourdirections？\"
\"Oh，Icanmanageallright，\"saidtheProphet，desperately。\"Icangiveaguessasto——\"
\"/Nonsuntadastraemollibusaterrusviae/！\"criedMadame。\"TheroadfromBerkeleysquaretothestarsisnotsoeasy，isit，Jupiter？\"
\"Noindeed，mylove。Why——\"
\"Then，\"exclaimedtheProphet，muchagitated，andfeelingitincumbentuponhimtogetridofMr。SagittariusatoncelestthecuriosityofLadyEnidshouldincreasebeyondallmeasure，andleadtoanencounterbetweenthetwoclientsofJellybrand’s，\"thenkindlygivememydirectionsasbrieflyaspossible，and——\"
Therewasanothertapuponthedoor。
\"Whatisit？\"criedtheProphet，distractedly，\"Comein！\"
Mr。Ferdinandre—enteredverydelicately。
\"Herladyshipcanonlystayaminute，sir。Mrs。Merilliahopesyoucanleaveyourbusiness——Isaidasyouwasverybusy，sir——andcomeuptothedrawing—room。\"
\"Yes，yes。I’llcome。SayI’llcome，Mr。Ferdinand。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
AsthedoorclosedtheProphetexclaimedexcitedly，——
\"IfearIreallymust——\"
\"Takedownyourdirections，sir，\"brokeinMr。Sagittarius，firmly。
\"Verywell，\"rejoinedtheProphet，desperately，seizinghispencilandtheaccount—book。\"Whatarethey？\"
\"Yousweartofollowthem，sir？\"
\"Yes，yes，anything——anything！\"
\"Haveyouastarmap？\"
\"Yes——no！\"
\"Youmustgetone。\"
\"Verywell。\"
\"YouhadbetterdosoattheStores。\"
Madamebreathedanalmostsensuoussighwhichcausedherhusbandtoglancetenderlytowardsher。
\"Iknow，mylove，Iknow，\"hesaid。\"Itmaycomesomeday。\"
\"/Ofestumdies！Longaintervallam！/\"shemurmured，shakingherbonnetwiththemannerofamartyrtoduty。
Mr。Sagittariuswasgreatlymoved。
\"She’sasaint，\"hewhisperedasidetotheProphet，asifimpartingsomenecessaryinformation。
\"Certainly。Pleasegoon！\"
Mr。Sagittariusstarted，asifsuddenlyrecalledtomundanematters。
\"GetitattheStores，\"hesaid。\"Intheastronomicaldepartment。\"
\"Verywell。\"
\"Havingdoneso，andkeepingtheoldladyperpetuallyinyourmind，youwillplaceherintheclawsofthecrab——\"
\"What！\"
\"Mentally，sir，mentally，ofcourse。\"
\"Oh。\"
\"And，allowingforthenaturaleffectofthescorpionandserpentupononeofhervenerableage——\"
\"GoodHeavens！\"
\"Whencloseroundher，astheywillbe——butyouwillobservethatforyourself——\"
TheProphetshuthiseyesasonewhorefusestobeholdsacrilege。
\"Youwilltracethecycloidalcurveoftheplanets——canyoudothat？\"
TheProphetnodded。
\"Asitaffectsherbirthday，thetwentieth。Shouldthelynxbenearher——\"
\"No，no！\"criedtheProphet。\"Itshallnotbe！\"
\"Well，you’llhavetofindthatoutandkeepaneyetoit。Butshoulditbe，youwillcommittopaperwhatresultitspresenceislikelytoproducetoher，andworkthewholethingoutclearlyformyselfandMadameonpaper——inpropheticform，ofcourse——sothatwereceiveitby——whatpostshallIsay，mydear？\"
\"Firstpost，Jupiter。\"
\"Firstposton——whatdayisthetwentieth？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"repliedtheProphet，helplessly。
\"AThursday，\"saidMadame。\"Capricornus’sdayforchronicsections。\"
\"Shealwaysknows，\"saidMr。SagittariustotheProphet。
\"Always。\"
\"Verywellthen，firstpostThursdaymorning。Nowisthatquiteclear？\"
\"Oh，quite，quite。\"
\"Youwillofcoursesendtheoldlady’shoroscopetousatthesametimewithfullparticulars。\"
\"Fullparticulars？\"saidtheProphet。\"Whatof？\"
\"Ofherremovalfromthebottle，cuttingofherfirsttooth，shortcoating，goingintoskirts，puttingofthehairup，dayofmarriageandwidowhood，illnesses——\"
\"Especiallytherashes，Jupiter，\"struckinMadame。
\"Whatamind！\"saidMr。SagittariusasidetotheProphet。
\"What！\"
\"EspeciallyasMadamesays，anyillnessestakingtheformofarash——
theepidemicform，asImaysay——andsoforth。WearetoreceivethisdocumentbythefirstpostThursdaymorning。\"
\"Haveyoudottedallthatdown，Mr。Vivian？\"inquiredMadame。
TheProphethastilymadealargevarietyofscratcheswiththeleadpencil。
\"Andnow，\"continuedMr。Sagittarius。
Therewasathirdtapatthedoor。
\"Comein，\"criedtheProphet，distractedly，andfeelingasifhomicidalmaniawererapidlycreepinguponhim。
Mr。Ferdinandappearedoncemore，withamouthlikeapurse。
\"Herladyshipsaysshereallymustgoinamoment，sir，and——andMrs。
Merilliabegsthat——\"
\"Iamcomingatonce，Mr。Ferdinand。Iswearit。GoupstairsandswearIswearit。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
Mr。Ferdinanddeparted，ratherwiththedemeanourofanarchbishopwhohasbeeninveigledintopledginghimself，onhisarchiepiscopaloath，tocommitsomehorridcrime。TheProphetturned，almostviolently，towardshisguests。
\"Imustgo，\"hecried。\"Imustindeed。Prayforgiveme。YouseehowI
amcircumstanced。Permitmetoshowyoutothedoor。\"
\"Youswear，sir，tocarryoutallourdirectionsandtodotdown——\"
\"Ido。Iswearsolemnlytodotdown——ifyouwillonly——thisway。Takecareofthemat。\"
\"Wetrustyou，Mr。Vivian，\"saidMadame，withmajesticpathos。\"Awife，amothertrustsyou。/Placensuxus！Materfamiliaris/。\"
\"Ipledgemyhonour。Thisisthe——no，no，notthatway，notthatway！\"
Theworthycouple，bymistake，nodoubt，wereproceedingtowardsthegrandstaircase，havingmissedthewaytothehalldoor，andastheProphet，followingthemupwithalmostunimaginableactivity，drewnearenoughtodrumtherightdirectionintotheirbacks，LadyEnidbecamevisibleonthelandingabove。Mr。Sagittariusperceivedher。
\"Why，it’sMissMinerv——\"hebegan。
\"Thisway，thisway！\"criedtheProphet，wheelingthemroundanddrivingthem，butalwayslikeathoroughgentleman，towardsthesquare。
\"Thensheleadsadoublelife，too！\"saidMr。Sagittarius，solemnly，fixinghisstrainedeyesupontheProphet。
\"She？Who？\"saidMadame，sharply。
ShehadnotseenLadyEnid。
\"Allofus，mylove，allofus，\"returnedherhusband，astheProphetsucceededinshepherdingthemontothepavement。
\"Good—bye，\"hecried。
Withalmostinconceivablerapidityheshutthedoor。Ashedidsotwovagueechoesseemedtofaintonhisear。Onewasmale，adreamlike——
\"Firstpost，Thursday！\"Theotherwasfemale，afairylike——\"/Jactumaleasunt/。\"
CHAPTERIX
THEPROPHETBEGINSTOCARRYOUTHISDIRECTIONS
\"Mr。Ferdinand，\"saidtheProphetthesameevening，afterhehaddressedfordinner，\"whathasbecomeofthetelescope？\"
Hespokeinalowvoice，notunlikethatofaconfirmedconspirator，andglancedratherfurtivelyaroundhim，asifafraidofbeingoverheard。
\"Ihaveremovedit，sir，accordingtoyourorders，\"repliedMr。
Ferdinand，alsodisplayingsomeuneasiness。
\"Yes，yes。Wherehaveyouplacedit？\"
\"Well，sir，IunderstoodyoutosayImightthrowitinPiccadilly，ifIsowished。\"
TheProphetsuddenlydisplayedrelief。
\"Isee。Youhavedoneso。\"
\"Well，no，sir。\"
TheProphet’sfacefell。
\"Thenwhereisit？\"
\"Well，sir，forthemomentIhavesetitinthebutler’spantry。\"
\"Indeed！\"
\"Ithoughtitmightbeofusethere，sir，\"continuedMr。Ferdinand，insomeconfusion，which，however，wasnotnoticedbytheProphet。\"Ofgreatuseto——toGustavusandmein——inourduties，sir。\"
\"Quiteso，quiteso，\"returnedtheProphet，abstractedly。
\"Didyouwishittobetakentothedrawing—roomagain，sir？\"
TheProphetstarted。
\"Certainlynot，\"hesaid。\"Onnoaccount。Asyouveryrightlysay——abutler’spantryistheplaceforatelescope。Itcanbeofgreatservicethere。\"
HisfervoursurprisedMr。Ferdinand，whobegantowonderwhether，byanychance，hismasterknewoftheLordChancellor’sagreeable—lookingsecond—cook。Afterpausingamomentrespectfully，Mr。FerdinandwasabouttodecampwhentheProphetcheckedhimwithagesture。
\"Onemoment，Mr。Ferdinand！\"
\"Sir？\"
\"Onemoment！\"
Mr。Ferdinandstoodstill。TheProphetclearedhisthroat，arrangedhistie，andthensaid，withanairofveryelaboratenonchalance，——
\"Atwhattimedoyougenerallygotobed，Mr。Ferdinand，whenyoudon’tsitup？\"
\"Sometimesatonetime，sir，andsometimesatanother。\"
\"That’sratherambiguous。\"
\"Ibegpardon，sir。\"
\"Whatisyourusualhourforbeingquite——thatis，entirelyinbed。\"
\"Entirelyinbed，sir？\"
Mr。Ferdinand’sfinebassvoicevibratedwithsurprise。
\"Yes。Notpartiallyinbed，butreallyandtrulyinbed？\"
\"Well，sir，\"returnedMr。Ferdinand，withdecideddignity，\"whenIaminbed，sir，Iam。\"
\"Andwhen’sthat？\"
\"Bytwelve，sir。\"
\"Ithoughtasmuch，\"criedtheProphet，withslightlytheatricalsolicitude。\"Yousituptoolate，Mr。Ferdinand。\"
\"Ihope，sir，thatI——\"
\"That’swhatmakesyousopale，Mr。Ferdinand，anddelicate。\"
\"Delicate，sir！\"criedMr。Ferdinand，whohadinfactbeenhopelesslyrobustfromthecradle，totallyincapableofacquiringeventhemostuniversalcomplaints，and，moreover，miraculouslyexemptfromthatwell—recognisedafflictionofthemembersofhisprofessionsowidelyknownas\"butler’sfeet。\"
\"Yes，\"saidtheProphet，emphatically。\"Youshouldbeinbed，thoroughlyinbed，byaquartertoeleven。AndGustavustoo！Heisyoung，andtheyoungcan’tbetoocareful。Beginto—night，Mr。
Ferdinand。Ispeakforyourhealth’ssake，believeme。\"
SosayingtheProphethurriedaway，leavingMr。FerdinandalmostasfirmlyrootedtotheTurkeycarpetwithsurpriseasifhehadbeenwovenintothepatternatbirth，andneverunpickedinlateryears。
AttenthateveningtheProphet，havingescapedearlyfromhisdinneronsomeextravagantpleaofsuddenillnessorsecondgaiety，stoodinthesmallandsoberpassageofthecelebratedTintackClubandinquiredanxiouslyforMr。RobertGreen。
\"Yes，sir。Mr。Greenisupstairsinthesmoke—room，\"saidthefunctionarywhomtheclubgrewunderglassforthebenefitofthemembersandtheirfriends。
\"Sam，showthisgentlemantoMr。Green。\"
Sam，whowasared—facedchildinbuttons，withaman’swalkandthebackofonewhoknewasmuchasmostpeople，obeyedthiscommand，andusheredtheProphetintoaroomwithasealing—waxredpaper，inwhichRobertGreenwassittingalone，smokingalargecigarandglancingatthe\"stony—brokeedition\"ofaneveningpaper。HegreetedtheProphetwithhisusualunaffectedcordiality，offeredhimeverydrinkthathadyetbeeninvented，and，onhisrefusalofthemall，handedhimacigarandamatchbox，andwhistled\"Ta—ra—ra—boom—de—av\"athiminthemostfriendlymannerpossible。
\"Bob，\"saidtheProphet，takingaverylongtimetolightthecigar，\"what，inyouropinion，istheexactmeaningofthetermhonour？\"
Mr。Green’scheerful，thoughslightlybelated，faceassumedanexpressionofgenialbetwaddlement。
\"Oh，well，Hen，\"hesaid，\"exactmeaningyouknow’snotsoeasy。But——
hangit，weallunderstandthething，eh，withoutstickingitdowninwords。What？\"
\"Idon’t，Bob，\"rejoinedtheProphet，inthetoneofamanatoddswithseveralconsciences。\"Inwhatdirectiondoeshonourlie？\"
\"Itdon’tlieatall，oldchap，\"saidMr。Green，withthedecidedmannerwhichhadmadehimsouniversallyesteemedinyeomanrycircles。
TheProphetbegantolookverymuchdistressed。
\"Lookhere，Bob，I’llputitinthisway，\"hesaid。\"Wouldanhonourablemanfeelboundtokeepapromise？\"
\"Rather。\"
\"Yes，butwouldhefeelboundtokeeptwopromises？\"
\"Rather，ifhe’dmade’em。\"
\"Supposehehad！\"
\"Goahead，Hen，I’msupposing，\"saidMr。Green，beginningtopuckerhisbrowsandstareveryhardindeedintheendeavourtokeepthesuppositionfixedfirmlyinhishead。
\"And，further，supposethatthesetwopromiseswerediametricallyopposedtooneanother。\"
Mr。Greenstuckoutoneleg，lookedobliquelyatthecarpet，pressedhislipstogetherandnodded。
\"Sothatifhefulfilledthembothhe’dhavetobreakthemboth——\"
\"Stopasec！Gad，I’velostit！Startagain，Hen！\"
\"No，Imeansothatifhedidn’tbreakonehewouldbeforcedtobreaktheother。Haveyougotthat？\"
\"Stopabit！Don’tbelieveIhave。Let’ssee！\"
Hemovedhislipssilently，repeatingtheProphet’swords。
\"Yes。I’vegotthatallrightnow，\"hesaid，afterthreeminutesofstrenuousmentalexertion。
\"Well，whatwouldyousayofhim？\"
\"Thathewasadamnedfool。\"
TheProphetlookedverymuchupset。
\"No，no，Bob，Imeanttohim。Whatwouldyousaytohim？\"
\"Thathewasadamnedfool。\"
TheProphetbegantoappearthoroughlybrokendown。However，hestillstucktohisinterpellation。
\"Verywell，Bob，\"hesaid，withunutterableresignation——asofatoadbeneaththeharrow——\"but，puttingallthataside——\"
\"Giveusachance，Hen！I’vegottoshuntallthat，haveI？\"
\"Yes，atleastallyouwouldsayof，andto，theman。\"
\"Oh，onlythat。Waitabit！Yes，I’vedonethat。Driveonnow！\"
\"Puttingallthataside，whatshouldyouadvisethemantodo？\"
\"Nottobesuchadamnedfoolagain。\"
\"No，no！Imeanaboutthetwopromises？\"
\"Whatabout’em？\"
\"Whichwouldhissenseofhonourcompelhimtokeep？\"
\"Ishouldn’tthinksuchadamnedfool’dgotasenseofhonour。\"
TheProphetwinced，buthestuckwithfeverishobstinacytohispoint。
\"Yes，Bob，hehad。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveit，Hen，’ponmywordIdon’t。You’llalwaysfindthatdamnedf——\"
\"Bob，Imustbegyoutotakeitfromme。Hehad。Nowwhichpromiseshouldhekeep？\"
\"Who’dhemade’emto？\"
\"Who？\"saidtheProphet，wavering。
\"Yes。\"
\"Oneto——toaverynearanddearrelative，theotherto——well，Bobtotwocomparativestrangers。\"
\"Whatsortofstrangers。\"
\"Thesortofstrangerswho——wholivebesideariver，andwho——whomixprincipallywith——well，infact，witharchitectsandtheirwives。\"
\"Rumsortofstrangers？\"
\"Theyaredecidedly。\"
\"Oh，then，youknow’em？\"
\"That’snotthepoint，\"exclaimedtheProphet，hastily。\"Thepointiswhichpromiseistobekept。\"
\"Ishouldsaytheonemadetotherelative。Waitabit，though！Yes，I
shouldsaythat。\"
TheProphetbreathedasighofrelief。Butsomedreadfulsenseofhonestywithinhimcompelledhimtoadd，——
\"Iforgottosaythathe’dpledgedhishonourtothearchitects——thatis，tothestrangerswholivedbesideariver。\"
\"What——andnotpledgedittotherelative？\"
\"Well，no。\"
\"Thenheoughttosticktothepromisehe’dpledgedhishonourover，ofcourse。Nicefortherelative！Theman’sadamnedfool，Hen。Dohaveadrink，oldchap。\"
ThusdidMr。RobertGreendrivetheProphettotakethefirstdecisivestepthatwastoleadtosomanycomplications，——thesteptowardsMr。
Ferdinand’spantry。
Atpreciselyaquartertoelevenp。m。theProphetstooduponhisdoorstepand，verygentlyindeed，insertedhislatchkeyintothedoor。
Ashadedlampwasburninginthedesertedhall，whereprofoundsilencereigned。Clearwasthenightandstarry。AstheProphetturnedtoclosethedoorheperceivedthebusycrab，andthethoughtofhisbelovedgrandmother，sinkingnowtorestonthesecondfloorallunconsciousofthepropinquityofthescorpion，thecontiguityoftheserpent，filledhisexpressiveeyeswithtears。Heshutthedoor，stoodinthehallandlistened。Heheardachaircrack，thetickingofaclock。Therewasnoothersound，andhefeltcertainthatMr。FerdinandandGustavushadheededhisanxiousmedicaldirectionsandgoneentirelytobedbetimes，leavingthebutler’spantryfreeforthenocturnaloperationsofthevictimofMadame。ForherecognisedthatshewastheguidingspiritofthefamilythatdweltbesidetheMouse。HemighthaveescapedoutofthesnareofMr。Sagittarius，butMadamewasafowlerwhowouldholdhimfasttillshehadsatisfiedherselfonceandforallwhetheritwereindeedpossibletodwellinthecentraldistricts，withinreachoftheArmyandNavyheaveninVictoriaStreet，andyetremainaprophet。
Yes，hemustnowworkfortheinformationofherambitioussoul。Hesigheddeeplyandwentsoftlyupthestairs。HischamberwasonthesamefloorasMrs。Merillia’s，and，ashenearedherdoor，heroseinstinctivelyuponhistoesand，graspingthetailsofhiseveningcoatfirmlywithhislefthand，topreventanychancerustlingoftheirsatinlining，andbearinghisGeorgetheThirdsilvercandlesticksteadilytocontrolanyclatteringofitsextinguisher，hemovedonratherlikeathiefwhowasalsoatrainedballerina，holdinghisbreathandpressinghislipstogetherinasupremeagonyofdumbness。
Unluckilyhetrippedintheraisedpatternofthecarpet，thecandlestickutteredasilvernote，hispent—inbreathescapedwithaloudgulp，andMrs。Merillia’sdelicatevoicecriedoutfrombehindhershutdoor，——
\"Hennessey！Hennessey！\"
TheProphetbithislipandwentatonceintoherroom。
Mrs。Merillialookedsimplycharminginbed，withherlongandelegantheadshadedbyabeautifulmuslinhelmettrimmedwithlace，andadeliciousembroideredwrapperroundhershoulders。TheProphetstoodbesideher，shadingthecandle—flamewithhishand。
\"Well，grannie，dear，\"hesaid，\"whatisit？Yououghttobeasleep。\"
\"Ineversleepbeforetwelve。Haveyouhadapleasantdinner？\"
\"Very。StanyerPhelps，theAmerican，wasthereandverywitty。Andwehadamarvellous/supremedevolaille/。Everybodyaskedafteryou。\"
Mrs。Merillianodded，likeanaccustomedqueenwhoreceivesherdue。
SheknewverywellthatshewasthemostpopularoldwomaninLondon，knewittoowelltothinkaboutit。
\"Well，good—night，grannie。\"
TheProphetbenttokissher，hisheartfilledwithcompunctionatthethoughtofthepromisehewasabouttobreak。ItseemedtohimalmostmorethansacrilegioustomakeofthisdearandhonouredornamentofoldageavehicleforthesatisfactionofthevulgarambitionsanddisagreeablecuriosityofthecouplewhodweltbesidetheMouse。
\"Good—night，mydearboy。\"
Shekissedhim，thenadded，——
\"YoulikeLadyEnid，don’tyou？\"
\"Verymuch。\"
\"SodoesRobertGreen。Hethinkshersuchathoroughlysensiblegirl。\"
\"Bob！Doeshe？\"saidtheProphet，concealingaslightsmile。
\"Yes。Ifyouwanthertogetonwithyou，Hennessey，youshouldcomeuptoteawhensheishere。\"
\"Icouldn’tto—day，grannie。\"
\"Youwerereallybusy？\"
\"Verybusyindeed。\"
\"Isupposeyouonlysawherforamomentonthestairs？\"
\"Thatwasall。\"
Itwastrue，forLadyEnidhadscarcelystayedtospeaktotheProphet，havinghurriedoutinthehopeofdiscoveringwhowerethe\"twoparties\"hehadbeenentertainingonthegroundfloor。
Mrs。Merilliadroppedthesubject。
\"Good—night，Hennessey，\"shesaid。\"Gotobedatonce。Youlookquitetired。Iamsothankfulyouhavegivenupthathorribleastronomy。\"
TheProphetdidnotreply，but，ashewentoutoftheroom，heknew，forthefirsttime，whatcriminalswithconsciencesfeellikewhentheyareengagedinfollowingtheirdreadprofession。
Ashewalkedacrossthelandingheheardaclockstrikeeleven。Hestarted，hastenedintohisroom，toreoffhiscoat，replaceditwithaquiltedsmoking—jacket，spranglightlytohistable，seizedaplanisphere，orstar—map，whichhehadsucceededinobtainingthatnightfromasmallworkingastronomer’sshopintheEdgewareRoad，and，mindfulofthetermsofhisoathandthedecidedopinionofRobertGreen，scurriedhastily，butverygingerly，downthestairs。ThistimeMrs。Merilliadidnothearhim。Shehadindeedbecomeabsorbedinanewromance，writtenbyaveryrisingyoungMontenegrinwhowasjustthenmakingsomestirintheliterarycirclesoftheelect。
VerysurreptitiouslytheProphettrippedacrossthehallandreachedthestoutdoorwhichgaveaccesstotheservants’quarters。Butherehepaused。AlthoughhehadlivedinMrs。Merillia’smostcomfortablehomeforatleastfifteenyears，hehadactuallyneveroncepenetratedbeyondthisdoor。Ithadneveroccurredtohimtodoso。Oftenhehadapproachedit。Quiterecently，whenMrs。FancyQuinglethadbrokenintotearsontherefusalofSirTiglathButttoburstaccordingtoherprediction，hehadhandedhertothisveryportal。Buthehadneverpassedthroughit，nordidheknowwhatlaybeyond。Nodoubttherewasakitchen，veryprobablythemysteriousregionofwateryactivitiescommonlyknownasascullery，quitecertainlyabutler’spantry。Butwhereeachseparatesanctumlay，andwhatshouldbethephysiognomyofeachonetheProphethadnotthevaguestidea。AsheturnedthehandleofthedoorhefeltlikeSirHenryStanley，whenthatintrepidexplorerfirstsetfootamongtheleafyhabitationsofthedwarfs。