AsthedooropenedtheProphetfoundhimselfinalargeapartmentwhosewallsweredecoratedwiththeeffortsofthosegreatpainterswhofeedthesentimentalimaginationsofthemassesinthebeautifulChristmasnumbersofourartisticday。Enchantinglittlegirlsandexceedinglyhumandogsobservedhisentrancefromeveryhand，whilesuchpenetratingandsuggestivelegendsas\"Don’tbite！\"\"Mustn’t！\"
\"Naughty！\"\"Would’ums？\"andthelike，filledhismindwiththeloftythoughtssosuitabletotheChristmasseason。Overthemantelpiecewasa/Cook’sAlmanacfortheHome/，decoratedinbrightcolours，a/Butler’sownbook/，boundinclaret—colouredlinen，andalargeframedphotographofFrancatelli，thatimmortal/chef/whosememoryiskeptgreeninsomanykitchens，andwhoserecipesarestillfollowedasarefollowedthefootprintsofthegreatonesintheEverlastingSandsofTime。OnecorneroftheroomGustavushadmadehisown，andheremightbeseenhistastefulwhat—notandhislittlelibrary——neatlyarrangedunabridgedfarthingeditionsofDrummond’s/AscentofMan/，Mill’s/Liberty/，Crampton’s/OriginofSelf—Respect/，Barlow’s/A
PhilosophicalExaminationintotheArtandPracticeofTippingandReceivingTips/，andothervolumessuitableforanintellectualfootman’sreading。Aneight—dayclock，whichwascarefullyandlovinglywoundupbytheprudentMrs。FancyQuingleteverymorningandevening，snoredpeacefullyinarecessbythehearth，and，fromacrevicenearthewindow，thebright，intelligenteyesofacoupleofwell—developedblack—beetles——motherandson——contentedlysurveyedthecheerfulscene。
TheProphet，afteramoment’spauseofcontemplation，passedonthroughaswingdoor，coveredwithgreenbaize，anddownsomestairstotheinnercourtsofthisinterestingregion。Thistimehecametoanchorinaroomwhich，hethought，mightwellhavebeenabutler’spantryhaditcontainedalarge—sizedtelescope。Itwasinfacttheparloursetapartfortheuseofthekitchenandscullerymaids，andwasbrightlyfittedupwithadresser，acupboardforskewers，arolling—pin，abastingmachine，andothersimilaradjuncts。Itgaveontothekitchen，inwhichthecatofthehousewasenjoyingwell—earnedslumberintheattitudeofablackball。SofarhisexploringtourhadquitefulfilledtherathervagueexpectationsoftheProphet，buthenowbegantofeelanxious。Timewaspassingonandhehadsworntobeatthetelescopebyelevensharp。Hehad，therefore，alreadyslightlyfracturedhisoath，andhehadnodesiretoearntheanathemaofallsuchmenasRobertGreenbybreakingitintosmallpieces。Wherewasthebutler’spantry？
Heglancedeagerlyroundthekitchen，perceivedadoor，passedthroughit，andfoundhimselfconfrontedbyasink。Hehadgainedthescullery，butnothisgoal。TotherightofthesinkwasyetanotherdoorthroughwhichtheProphet，whocarriedtheplanisphereinonehand，theGeorgetheThirdcandlestickintheother，ratherexcitedlydebouchedintoagood—sizedpassage。Ashedidsoheheardthemuffledaltovoiceoftheeight—dayclockproclaimthatitwasaquarter—pasteleven。Feelingthathewasnowuponthepointofbreakingboththepromisesofthedamnedfool，theProphethastenedalongthepassage，dartedthroughthefirstoutlet，andfoundhimselfabruptlyfacetobackwithwhatappearedatfirstglancetobeanenormouslybroadandbow—leggeddwarf，withabaldheadandablacktailcoat，which，inanattitudeofsavagecuriosity，wasgazingthroughagiganticinstrument，whosemuzzleprojectedfromanopenwindowintoaspaciousarea。SogreatwastheProphet’ssurprise，sosupremetheshocktohiswholenervoussystemoccasionedbythisunexpectedencounter，thathedidnotutteracry。Hisamazementcarriedhimintothatterribleregionwhichliesbeyondtherealmsofspeech。Hesimplystoodquitestillandgazedatthebow—leggeddwarf，which，initsturn，continuedtogazesavagelythroughthegiganticinstrumentintothearea。NotforperhapsthreeorfourminutesdidtheProphetrealisethatthisdwarfwasmerelyaningeniouslyshortenedformofMr。Ferdinand，who，withhislegsverywideapart，andmakingtwoaccuraterightanglesattheirrespectiveknee—joints，hisheadthrownwellback，andhisarmsarrangedintwoperfectcapitalV’s，withtheelbowspointingdirectlyatthewallsoneithersideofhim，hadbeenbusilyengagedforthelasthourandaquarterintryingtofocusfirstlytheLordChancellor’shouseontheoppositesideofthesquare，andsecondlythepleasant—lookingsecond—
cookinit。Thathischivalrouseffortshadnotyetbeencrownedwithcompletesuccesswillbeunderstoodwhenwesaythathehadseenduringhisfirsthalf—hourofcontemplationnothingatall，duringhissecondhalf—hourtheleft—handtopstaroftheGreatBear，andfinallythefourthspikefromtheendoftheironrailingwhichenclosedthesquaregarden，atwhichhehadbeengazingcloselyforpreciselyfifteenminutesandahalfwhentheProphetdartedintothepantry。
HavingatlengthrecoveredfromhisshockofsurprisesufficientlytorealisethattheenormousandimmobiledwarfwasMr。Ferdinand，andthatMr。Ferdinandwasnotyetawareofhispresence，theProphetresolvedtobeatarapidandnoiselessretreat。Hecarriedthisresolveintoexecutionbyturningsharplyround，knockinghisheadagainstaplatechest，firingtheGeorgetheThirdcandlestickintothepassage，andlettingtheplanispheregointothechinajarof\"Butler’sownspecialpomade\"whichMr。Ferdinandkeptalwaysopenforuseuponthepantrytable。
TosaythatMr。FerdinandceasedfromlookingthroughthetelescopefortheLordChancellor’ssecond—cookatthisjuncturewould，perhaps，notconveyquiteafairideaoftheactivitywhichhecouldonoccasiondisplayevenathissomewhatadvancedage。Itmightbemorejusttostatethat，withoutwastinganyprecioustimeinuselesselongation，hedescribedanexceedinglyrapidcircularmovement，stillpreservingtheshortenedformofhimselfwhichhadsodeceivedandstartledhismaster，andbroughthiseyefromtheorificeofthetelescopetoalevelwiththeProphet’skneesexactlyatthemomentwhentheProphetreboundedfromtheplatechestintothecentreoftheapartment。
\"Oh，isityou，Mr。Ferdinand？\"saidtheProphet，controllingeverysymptomofanguish，withtheexceptionofarapidflutteroftheeyelids。\"Iwaslookingfor——forabradawl。\"
TheProphet’schoiceofthisusefullittleimplementasthereasonforhispresenceinMr。Ferdinand’sspecialsanctumwaspromptedbythefactthat，justashewasspeaking，hehappenedtoseeabradawllyinguponaneighbouringknifecupboardinthecompanyofacorkscrew。
\"Andhere，Isee，isjustwhatIwant，\"headdedcalmly。
Sofarhehaddisplayedextraordinarycomposure，butatthispointhemadeaslightmistake，forhepickedupthecorkscrewandsaunteredquietlyawaywithitintothedarkness，leavingMr。FerdinandstillintheattitudeofaTobyjug，theplanispherestillheaddownwardsinthebutler’sownspecialpomade，andtheGeorgetheThirdcandlestickstretchedatfulllengthuponthepassagefloor。
CHAPTERX
THEPROPHETANDMALKIELTHESECONDCONVERSEBYTELEGRAM
\"HennesseyVivian，1000BerkeleySquare，W。
\"Pleasewireresultoflastnight’sobservationsfromeleventillthreeinclusive。——Sagittarius。\"
\"JupiterSagittarius，SagittariusLodge，CramptonSt。Peter，N。
\"Impossiblewireresult，willwriteatlengthaftertakingfurtherobservationsto—night。——Vivian。\"
\"Certainlywriteatlength，butmeanwhilewireallimportantresultsincondensedform。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Resultsnotsufficientlyimportanttowire，letterwithoutfailto—morrow。——Vivian。\"
\"Nevermindunimportance，wirewhateverresultsobtained。——
Sagittarius。\"
\"Onconsiderationthinkresultstooimportanttowire，willexplainbyletter。——Vivian。\"
\"Yoursecondandthirdwiresindirectcontradiction；kindlyreconcileopposingstatements。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Cannotreconcilebywire，willdosobyletter。——Vivian。\"
\"Thenmeanwhilerequestforecastofgrandmothersofarasgatheredlastnight。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Quiteimpossiblediscussgrandmotherbywire。——Vivian。\"
\"Notatall；couchincarefulterms，shallunderstand；noneedputgrandmother’sname。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Quiteimpossible；grandmothertoosacredfortreatmentbywire，longandfullletterto—morrow。——Vivian。\"
\"Absurd！CallherHarryandwireherfutureasobtainedlastnight；
shallunderstand。——Sagittarius。\"
\"CannotpossiblyconsentcallgrandmotherHarry；praycease；
successionoftelegraphboystohouseattractinggeneralattentioninsquare。——Vivian。\"
\"Mustinsist；thencallherSusanandwire。——Sagittarius。\"
\"CannotpossiblyconsenttocallherSusan；discussionofsuchmatterbywirenotdecent；regretmustabsolutelydecline。
——Vivian。\"
\"Madameandselfinsultedbyaccusationnotdecent；demandexplanationandapology。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Regret；nodesiregivepaintolady，butthismustcease；
grandmotherandsquareseriouslyupsetbyprocessionoftelegraphboys。——Vivian。\"
\"Cannothelpsquareandgrandmother；musthavelastnight’sresulttocomparewithownobservationofgrandmotherwithcrabandscorpion。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Praycease；wouldratherdiethandiscussgrandmotherwithcrabandscorpionbywire。——Vivian。\"
\"Rubbish！CallcrabSusan，scorpionJane，grandmotherHarry，andwire；absolutelyinsist。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Absolutelydeclinediscusscrab，scorpionandgrandmotherbywire；
final。——Vivian。
\"Scandalous！notbehaviourofgentleman；Madamecuttoheart；
infamous。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Materfamiliarispallidibusira。——MadameSagittarius。\"
\"Ifreceivenoreplyastograndmotherandcrab，etcetera，shallstartatonceforSquare。——JupiterandMadameSagittarius。\"
\"Onnoaccounttroublecomeup；goingoutimmediately；importantengagement。——Vivian。\"
\"Madameputtingonboots。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Utterlyuselessputonboots；leavinghouse。——Vivian。\"
\"Madamebootson；tyingbonnet。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Totallyuselesstiebonnet；absolutelyforcedleavehouse。
——Vivian。\"
\"Madameinpelisse；shallcomeinwaittillyourreturn。
——Sagittarius。\"
\"Regretpelisse；quiteuseless；outtilllateevening。——Vivian。\"
\"Shallstaytillwhateverhour；haveonhatandbonnetnow；
starting。——JupiterandMadameSagittarius。\"
\"ForHeaven’ssakedon’t；willwirewhateveryouwish。——Vivian。\"
\"Don’t。Anklesperhapscatching；dangerousCapricornus。——Vivian。\"
\"Haveyoustarted？——Vivian。\"
\"Havenotstarted，butatthresholdofdoor；wirefullexplanationofcrabwithgrandmother，etcetera，lastnightorshallstartinstanter。——JupiterandMadameSagittarius。\"
\"Truthisverylittleresultlastnight；didnotseecrabwithgrandmother；deeplyregret。——Vivian。\"
\"Thenwireresultofscorpionwithgrandmother。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Verysorrydidnotseescorpionwithgrandmother。——Vivian。\"
\"Impossible；believestarsout；clearsky；selfandMadamedistinctlyobservedcrabandscorpionwithgrandmotherforfourhours。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Onhonourdidnotseecrab，scorpionorgrandmother。——Vivian。\"
\"Thenhasgrandmotherpassedover？——Sagittarius。\"
\"Certainlynot，butnoresult；prayceasediscussion，grandmotherandsquaredistractedbyincessantuproarofboysatdoor。
——Vivian。\"
\"Leavinghouse；withyouassoonaspossible。——JupiterandMadameSagittarius。\"
\"Heaven’ssakedon’t；telltruth；didnotlookthroughtelescopeatalllastnight。——Vivian。\"
\"Whatmeaningofthissworeoathbroken；nogentleman；comingatonceforexplanation。——JupiterandMadameSagittarius。\"
\"Stop；sendingboymessengerwithfullexplanation；severeaccidentlastnight，injuredhead，sounablelookforcrab，grandmotherandscorpion。——Vivian。\"
\"Astounded，upset，Madamesaysnotconductgentleman；mighthaveseencrab，grandmotherandscorpionwithinjuredhead；mereexcuse——caputmortuusdecrepitumcancer。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Prayexcuse；lookto—nightwithoutfail；Heaven’ssakeceasewriting；grandmotherandwholesquareamazement，confusion；shallgomadifcontinues。——Vivian。\"
\"Verywell，butinsistonfullletter；confidenceinoathmuchshaken；wiresmostshifty；grossneglectofcrab，grandmotherandscorpion。——Sagittarius。\"
\"Homomiserumsedmagnumestveritatusetpraevalebetur。——MadameSagittarius。\"
CHAPTERXI
MISSMINERVAOPENSHERBOOKOFREVELATIONINACAB
\"AssuretheLordChancellorthatthelastboyhasbeenandgone——goneaway，thatis，Mr。Ferdinand，andthatIpledgemysacredwordnottohaveanothertelegramto—day。\"
\"Yes，sir。Hislordshipdesiredthatyoushouldbeinformedthat，accordingtothelawregulatingpublicabominationsandintolerablestreetnoises，youwasliableto——\"
\"Iknow，Iknow。\"
\"Andthat，bytheActdealingwithgrossoffencesagainstthepublicorderandscandalouscrimesagainstthepeaceofmetropolitancommunities，youwasamenable——\"
\"Exactly。Gotohislordshipandswear——\"
\"Icouldn’tdothatsosoonagain，sir，really。Isworeonlyasshortagoasyesterday，sir，byyourexpressorder，but——\"
\"Imeanasseveratetohislordshipthattheverylastboyhasknockedfortheverylasttime。\"
\"Itwasn’tsomuchtheknocking，sir，hislordshipcomplainedof，astheboyscomingtothedoormeetingtheboysgoingawayfromit，andblockingupthepavement，sir，sothatnoonecouldgetpastand——\"
\"Yes，yes。Goandasseverateatonce，Mr。Ferdinand。\"
\"Verywell，sir。AndHerGrace，theDuchessofCamberwell，whoispassingfromonefittoanother，sir，fromfrightattheuproarandtelegramsgoingtothewronghouse，sir？\"
\"ImploreHerGracetohavecourageandtotrustmeasagentlemanwhenIpromisesolemnlythattheknockingshallnotberenewed。\"
\"Verywell，sir。\"
\"Mr。Ferdinand！\"
\"Sir？\"
\"Havetheknockersswathedincotton—woolatonce。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"
\"And——fixabulletinonthedoor。Wait！I’llwriteit。\"
TheProphethastenedtohiswritingtableand，withahandthattrembledviolently，wroteonacardasfollows：——
\"Ownerofthishouseseriouslyill，praydonotknockor/death/shallcertainlyensue。\"
\"There！Poorgranniewillhavepeacenow。Nailthatup，Mr。Ferdinand，underthecotton—wool。\"
\"Verywell，sir。Mrs。Merillia，sir，wouldbegladtospeaktoyouforamoment。YourememberIinformedyou？\"
\"I’llgotoheratonce。Butfirstbringmeaglassofbrandy，Mr。
Ferdinand。I’mfeelingextremelyunwell。\"
AndtheProphet，whowaspalerfarthanashes，andbeadedfromtoptotoewithperspiration，sankdownfeeblyuponachairandlethisheaddropontheblotting—padthatlayonhiswriting—table。
Whenhehadswallowedaninchortwoofcognachegotup，pulledhimselftogetherwithbothhands，andwalked，likeanelderlypersonafflictedwithincipientlocomotorataxy，upstairsintothedrawing—
roomwhereMrs。Merilliawaslyingonasofa，ministeredtobyFancyQuinglet，who，atthemomentofhisentrance，wasbusilyengagedinstuffingalargewadofcotton—woolintotherightearofherbelovedmistress。
\"Leaveusplease，Fancy，\"saidMrs。Merillia，inavoicethatsoundedmucholderthanusual。\"Andasyourheadissobad，too，youhadbetterliedown。\"
\"Thankyou，ma’am。IfIkeepupright，ma’am，Ifeelmyheadwillsplitasunder。Ican’tspeakdifferentnorfeelother。\"
\"Thendon’tbeupright。\"
\"No，ma’am。Themthatfeelsother，letthemdeclareit！\"andMrs。Fancyretired，holdingbothhandstohertemples，andutteringverydistinctlysundrystifledmoans。
Mrs。MerilliamotionedtheProphettoachair，and，afterlyingquitestillforaboutfiveminuteswithhereyestightlyshut，saidinaweaktoneofvoice，——
\"Howmanymoretelegramsdoyouexpect，Hennessey？Youhavehadtwenty—
sevenwithinthelastthreehours。Canyougivemearoughgeneralideaoftheaveragenumberyouanticipatewillprobablyarriveeveryhourfromnowtilltheofficesclose？\"
\"Grannie，grannie，forgiveme！Iassureyou——\"
\"Don’tbeafraidtotellme，Hennessey。Itismuchbettertoknowtheworst，andfactitbravely。Willthepresentaveragebemerelysustained，ordoyouexpectthequantitytoincreasetowardsnight？
becauseifso——\"
\"Grannie，therewillbenomore。IsweartoyousolemnlythatIwillnothaveanothertelegramto—day。Iwillnotuponmysacredhonour。
Nothing——notwildhorseseven——shallinduceme。\"
\"Horses！Thenweretheyracingtips，Hennessey？Yes，givemethe/eaudeCologne/andfanmegently。Weretheyracingtips？\"
\"Oh，grannie，howcouldyousuppose——\"
AtthismomentMr。FerdinandenteredsoftlyandwentuptoMrs。
Merillia。
\"Mr。Q。ElishaHubsbee，ma’am。Heisdeeplydistressedandasksfornews……\"
\"TheCentralAmericanAmbassador’sgrandfather，\"saidMrs。Merillia，readingthecardwhichMr。Ferdinandhandedtoher。
\"Shockedtohearyouaresoillthataknockwillfinishyou。Guessyoumustbefargone。Earnestsympathy。Haveyoutriedpatentmorphiamolasses？
Q。E。H。\"
\"Ah！howthingsgetabout！TellMr。ElishaHubsbeetheknockshavenearlykilledusall，Mr。Ferdinand，butwearebearingupaswellascanbeexpected。Ifnecessarywewillcertainlytrythemolasses。\"
\"Yes，ma’am。\"
\"Itistwoo’clocknow，Hennessey。TheCharingCrossofficeisopentillmidnight，Ibelieve，soatthepresentrateyoushouldonlyhaveaboutninetymoretelegramsto—day。Butifyouhavereasontoexpect——\"
Mr。Ferdinandre—entered。
\"Mrs。HendrickMarshallhascalled，ma’am。Shedesiredmetosayshewaspassingthedoorandwasmuchhorrifiedtofindthatyouaresonearthepoint，ma’am。\"
\"Whatpoint，Mr。Ferdinand？\"
\"Ofdeath，ma’am。Shehadnoideaatall，ma’am。\"
\"Oh，thankMrs。HendrickMarshall，Mr。Ferdinand，andsayweshalltrytokeepfromthepointforthepresent。
\"Yes，ma’am。\"
\"——Thatthenumberswillgoupastheafternoondrawson，Hennessey——\"
\"Grannie，haven’tIsworn，andhaveyoueverknownmetotellyoua——\"
SuddenlytheProphetstoppedshort，thinkinghowthatverynighthewouldbeforcedbyhisoathto\"Madameandself\"tobreakhispromisetohisgrandmother，howalreadyitwouldhavebeenbrokenhadnotMr。
Ferdinandonthepreviousnightbeeninpossessionofthetelescope。
\"TheChancelloroftheExchequer，ma’am，desireshiscompliments，andhebegsyoutolastout，ifpossible，tillhehasfetchedSirWilliamBroadbenttoseeyou。Heisgoingthereonhisbike，ma’am，andhadnoconceptionyouwasdyingtillheknewitthismoment，ma’am。\"
\"ThanktheChancellor，Mr。Ferdinand，andsaythatthoughwemustallgooutsomedayIhavenodesireforadissolutionatpresent，andshalldomybesttoprovemyselfworthyofmyconstitution。\"
\"Yes，ma’am。\"
Mr。Ferdinandretired，brushingawayatear。
\"Itwouldnotbefeasible，Isuppose，Hennessey，tostationGustavuspermanentlyatthetelegraphofficewithasmallhamper，sothathemightcollectthewiresinitastheyarriveandconveythemhere，onceanhourorso，enteringbytheareadoor。Ithoughtperhapsthatmightobviate——\"
Mr。Ferdinandoncemoreappeared，lookingverypuffyabouttheeyes。
\"Ifyouplease，ma’am，La——adyJuliaPos——ostlethwaiteisbelow，andaskswhe——etheryouaretrulygoingma’am？\"
\"Going？Whereto，Mr。Ferdinand？\"
\"Theotherpla——ace，ma’am。Herladyshipiscryingsomethingterrible，ma’am，andsays，tillsheno——no——noticedthefactshehadno——no——
notionyouwasleavingussosoon，ma’am。\"
HereMr。Ferdinandutteredaverystrangeandheartrendingsoundthatwasratherlikethebarkofadogwithabadcoldinitshead。
\"Itisreallyveryoddsomanypeoplefindingoutsosoon！\"saidMrs。
Merilliainsomesurprise。\"Tellherladyship，Mr。Ferdinand，that——\"
Butatthismomenttherewasthesoundoffeetonthestairs，andLadyEnidThistlehurriedintotheroom，closelyfollowedbyMr。RobertGreen。LadyEnidwentupatoncetoMrs。Merillia。
\"Iamsoshockedanddistressedtoseeyournews，dearMrs。Merillia，\"
shecriedaffectionately。\"But，\"sheadded，withmuchinquisitiveness，\"isitreallytruethatifanyonetappedonthedooryouwouldcertainlydie？Howcanyoubesosureofyourself。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？Ah，Mr。Green，howd’youdo？Seemynews！\"
\"Yes，writtenuponthefrontdoor。Everyone’sshocked。\"
\"Rather！\"saidMr。Green，gazingatMrs。Merilliawithconfusedmournfulness。\"Onedoesn’tseedeathonafrontdooreveryday，don’tyouknow，inbigroundhandtoo，andthenoneofthosemodernwords。\"
\"Deathonthefrontdoorinbigroundhand！\"saidMrs。Merilliainthegreatestperplexity。
\"Iputitthere，grannie，\"saidtheProphet，humbly。\"Iwrotethatifanotherboyknocked，deathwouldcertainlyensue。\"
\"Ensue。That’sit。Iknewitwasoneofthosemodernwords，\"saidMr。
Green。
\"Anotherboy？\"saidLadyEnid。\"Whyshouldanotherboyknock？\"
\"Hennesseyreceivesaboutninetelegramsanhour，\"answeredMrs。
Merillia。
\"Really！\"
LadyEnidlookedathimwithkeeninterest，whileMrs。Merilliacontinued，——
\"Youhadbettertakedeathoffthedoornow，Mr。Ferdinand。Ifeelmoremyself。Pleasethankherladyshipandtellherso。\"
\"Yes，ma’am。\"
\"Ninetelegramsanhour！\"repeatedLadyEnid。\"Mr。Vivian，wouldyoumindjustseeingmeasfarasHillStreet？BobhastogotoTattersall’s。\"
\"HaveI，Niddy？\"askedMr。Green，withevidentsurprise。
\"Yes，topickupapolopony。Don’tyourecollect？\"
\"Apolopony，wasit？ByJove！\"
\"Iwillcomewithpleasure，\"saidthepoorProphet，whofeltfitonlytoliedownquietlyinhisgrave。\"Ifyoudon’tmindbeingleft，grannie？\"
Mrs。Merilliawaslookingpleased。
\"No，no。GowithLadyEnid，mydearboy。IfanytelegramscomeshallI
open——\"
\"No，\"criedtheProphet，withsuddenfierceenergy。\"Formercy’ssake——
Imean，grannie，dear；thatnonewillcome。Iftheyshould\"——hisordinarygentleeyesflamedalmostfuriously——\"Mr。Ferdinandistoburnthemunread——yes，toashes。Iwilltellhim。\"AndheescortedLadyEnidtumultuouslydownstairs，missinghisfootingateverysecondstep。
InthesquaretheypartedfromMr。Green，whosaid，——
\"Good—bye，Niddy，oldgirl。WhatdoIwanttopickupatTattersall’s？\"
\"Apolopony，Bob，\"sheansweredfirmly。