\"Oh，apolopony。Thanks，Chin，chin，Hen。Poloponyisit？\"
Hestrodeoff，whistling\"Sheworeawreathofroses\"inapuzzledmanner，butstillpreservingtheaccepteddemeanourofabulwark。
AssoonasMr。GreenwasoutofsightLadyEnidsaid，——
\"Wearen’tgoingtoHillStreet。\"
\"Aren’twe？\"repliedtheProphet，feebly。
\"No。ImustseeSirTiglathButtto—day。Iwantyoutotakemetohisdoor。\"
\"Whereishisdoor？\"
\"InKensingtonSquare。Doyoumindhailingafour—wheeler。Wecantalkprivatelythere。Noonewillhearus。\"
TheProphethailedagrowler，wonderingwhethertheywouldbeabletoheareachother。AstheygotinLadyEnid，aftergivingthedirection，saidtothecabman，whowasashortperson，withcurlingebonwhiskers，abroken—upexpressionandabroken—downmanner：
\"Driveslowly，pleaseandI’llgiveyouanextrasix—pence。\"
\"Lydy？\"
\"Driveslowly，andI’llgiveyouanothersix—pence。\"
\"HowdidyerthinkIwasgawingtodrive，lydy？\"
\"Iwonderwhycabmenarealwayssointerestedinone’sinmostthoughts，\"saidLadyEnid，asthehorsefelldownpreparatorytostarting。
\"Iwonder。\"
\"Ihopehewillgoslowly。\"
\"Heseemstobedoingso。\"
Atthispointthehorse，afterknockingonthefrontofthecabwithhishindfeettenoradozentimes，gotup，hunghishead，anddrewalargenumberofdeepanddejectedbreaths。
\"AmIgawingslowlyenough，lydy？\"askedthecabman，anxiously。
\"Yes，butyoucanlethimtrotalongnow。\"
\"Right，lydy，Iain’tpreventingofhim。\"
AseventuallytheyscrambledslowlyforwardintheKensingtondirection，LadyEnidremarked，——
\"Whydon’tyouhavethemsenttoJellybrand’s？\"
\"Havewhat？\"askedtheProphet。
\"Yourtelegrams。Themessagesfromyourdoublelife。Ido。\"
\"ButIassureyou——\"
\"Mr。Vivian，it’suselessreally。IfindyouhiddenawayintheinnerroomofJellybrand’swithMr。Sagittarius，closelyguardedbyFrederickSmith；fourpennychampagne——\"
\"Fourbob——shilling，Imean。\"
\"Oh，wasit？——Uponthetable。AfterI’vebeenpoisoned，andweareleaving，Mr。Sagittariuscallsafteryousuchexpressionsas’BanksoftheMouse——hearfromme——marrow——architectsandthelastday。’Youareobviouslyagitatedbytheseexpressions。Wereachyourhouse。Ifindyouhavebeenprophesyingthroughatelescope。ThenameofMalkiel——awell—knownprophet——ismentioned。Youturnpaleandglanceatmeimploringly，asiftosolicitmysilence。Iamsilent。Thenextdayyouannouncethatyouaregoingtohavetwoafternoonparties。\"
\"No，no，notafternoon！Ineversaidafternoon！\"interposedtheProphet，frantically，asthehorsefelldownagaininordertoearntheextrasixpence。
\"Well，twopartiesintheafternoon。It’sthesamething。Yousaytheyareodd。Youyourselfacknowledgeit。Youtellmeyouhavesecrets。\"
\"DidI？\"
\"Yes。WhenIsaidIhadguessedyoursecretyoureplied，’Whichone？’\"
\"Oh！\"murmuredtheProphet，tryingnottosay\"comein！\"tothehorse，whichwasagainknockingwithbothfeetuponthefrontofthecab。
\"Yougohome。Icallduringtheafternoon，andfindthatyouareentertainingallyourguestsinyourownlittleroomandthatyourgrandmotherknowsnothingofitandbelievesyoutobeworking。AsIamleavingIseethebacksoftwoofyourguests。Oneisapelisse，theotheraspottedcollar。AsInearthemtheymountintoapurpleomnibusonwhichisprintedinhugeletters，/’Tothe\"PorkButcher’sRest\"’/——\"
\"No！No！\"ejaculatedtheProphet，palewithhorroratthisrevelation。
\"/Rest/，CramptonVale，N。Ilosethemintheshadows。ThenextdayI
callandfindyourgrandmotherisdyingfromthenoisemadebyboysbringingyouprivatetelegrams。Andthenyoutellme，me——MinervaPartridge——thatyouhavenodoublelife！Yes，youcanlethimgetupnow，please。\"
Thecabmanpermittedthehorsetodosoandtheyagainstruggledfunereallyforward。TheProphetwasstillverypale。
\"Isupposeitisuselessto——verywell，\"hesaid。\"Mylifeisdouble。\"
\"Ah！\"
\"Butonlylately，quitelately。\"
\"Nevermindthat。Oh！HowgladIamthatyouhavehadthecouragetoo！
Youwillsoongetintoit，asIdid。ButyoushouldhaveallyourtelegramsandsoforthdirectedtoJellybrand’s。\"
\"It’stoolate，\"repliedtheProphet，dejectedly。\"Toolate。Idowishthathorsewouldn’tfalldownsocontinually！It’smostmonotonous。\"
\"Thepoormannaturallywantstheextrasixpence。IthinkIshallgivehimashilling。ButnowwhoisMr。Sagittarius？\"
\"Whoishe？\"
\"Yes。I’veseenhimseveraltimesatJellybrand’s，andwhenIfirstmethimIthoughhewasanoutsidebroker。\"
\"You！WasitonthepieratMargate？\"
\"Certainlynot！Really，Mr。Vivian！eveninmydoublelifeI
occasionallydrawtheline。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon。I——thehorseconfusesme。\"
\"Well，he’sstoppedknockingnowandwillbeupinanotherminute。WhodidyousayMr。Sagittariuswas？\"
\"Ididn’tsayhewasanybody，buthe’saman。\"
\"I’dguessedthat。\"
\"Andanacquaintanceofmine。\"
\"Yes？\"
\"I’mafraidit’sgoingtorain。\"
\"ItgenerallydoesinKnightsbridge。Yes？\"
\"IsSirTiglathlikelytobein？\"
\"HeknowsI’mcoming。Well，youhaven’ttoldmewhoMr。Sagittariusis。\"
\"LadyEnid，\"saidtheProphet，desperately，\"IknowverylittleofMr。
Sagittariusbeyondthefactthathe’saman，whichI’vealreadyinformedyouof。\"
\"Isheanoutsidebroker？\"
\"No。\"
\"Thenhe’sMalkiel。Youcan’tdenyit。\"
\"Icandenyanything，\"saidtheProphet，who，alreadyupsetbytheeventsoftheday，wasnowgoadedalmosttodesperation。\"Icanand——
andmust。There’sthehorsedownagain！\"
\"Ishallhavetogivethemanoneandsixpence。AreyourgoingtokeepyourpromisetoMrs。MerilliaandSirTiglath？\"
TothisquestiontheProphetdeterminedtogiveadirectanswer，inordertodrawLadyEnidawayfromthemoredangeroussubjects。
\"No，\"hesaid，withaspasmofpain。
\"Iknewyouwouldn’tbeableto。\"
\"Why？\"
\"Becausewhenone’soncebeenreallyandtrulysillyit’simpossiblenottorepeattheact，absolutelyimpossible。You’llneverstopnow。
You’llgoonfromonethingtoanother，asIdo。\"
\"Icannotthinkthatprophecyissilly，\"saidtheProphet，withsomestiffness。
Shelookedathimwithfrankadmiration。
\"You’reworsethanIam！It’ssplendid！\"
\"Worse！\"
\"Why，yes。You’refoolishenoughtothinkyoursillyactssensible。I
wishIcouldgettothat。ThenperhapsIcouldimposeonSirTiglathmoreeasilytoo。\"
Sheconsideredthisideaseriously，astheystartedonagain，andgraduallygotfreeofthelittlecrowdthathadbeensittingonthehorse’shead。
\"Imustimposeuponhim，\"shesaid。\"Andyou’vegottohelpme。\"
\"I！\"criedtheProphet，feelingterriblyunequaltoeverything。\"I
cannotpossiblyconsent——\"
\"Yes，dearMr。Vivian，youcan。Andiftwothoroughlysillypeoplecan’timposeupononesensibleoldman，itwillbeverystrangeindeed。
AndnowI’mgoingtotellyouwhatIhadn’ttimetotellyouyesterday。\"
Sheleanedforwardandtappedsharplyontherattlingglassinfrontofthecab。Thecabman，bendingdown，twistedhiswhiskerstowardsher。
\"Don’tgotoofast。\"
\"Ican’tget’imtofalldownagyne，lydy。’E’stootired。\"
\"Idaresay。Butdon’tlethimwalkquitesofast。\"
Shedrewback。
\"Mr。Vivian，\"shesaid——andtheProphetthoughtshehadneverlookedmoresensiblethannow，asshebeganthisrevelation——\"Mr。Vivian，amongthesillypeopleIhavemetinmydeardoublelife，whodoyouthinkaretheverysilliest？\"
\"Theanti—vaccinators？\"
\"No。Besides，theysooftenhavesmall—poxandbecomequitesensible。\"
\"Theatheists？\"
\"Iusedtothinkso，butnotnow。AndmostofthoseIknewareRomanCatholicsatpresent。\"
\"Thewomenwhodon’tdesiretobeslaves？\"
\"Therearen’tany。\"
\"ThetearersofPaderewski’shair？\"
\"Isoseldommeetthem，becausetheyallliveoutinthesuburbs。\"
\"Thetight—lacers？\"
\"Theygetrednoses，poorthings，anddisappear。They’renotpermanentenoughtocountastheverysilliest。\"
\"Igiveitup。\"
\"TheSpiritualistsandtheChristianScientists。That’swhyIlovethembest，andspendmostofmydoublelifewiththem。Howyouwouldgetonwiththem！Howmuchateaseyouwouldbeintheirmidst！\"
\"Really！Butaren’ttheyinoppositecamps？\"
\"Dearthings！Theyoftenthinkso，Ibelieve。Butreallytheyaren’t。
HalftheChristianScientistsbeginasSpiritualists。AndagreatmanySpiritualistswereonceChristianScientists。\"
\"Whichareyou？\"
\"Both，ofcourse。\"
\"Dearme！\"
\"Asyouwillbewhenyou’vegotthoroughlyintoyourdoublelife。Well，mygreatestfriend——inmydoublelife，youunderstand——isaMrs。VaneBridgeman，aChristianScientistandSpiritualist。Sheisveryrich，andmagnificentlyidiotic。Shesupportsallfoolishcharities。Shehasalmshousesforbroken—downmediumsonSunningtonCommoninKent。Shehasendowedahospitalforsickfortune—tellers。Shegavefivehundredpoundstothehomeforindigentthought—readers，andnearlyasmuchtothe’Palmists’SeasideRetreat’atMillabyBaynearDover。Idon’tknowhowmanyChristianScienceTemplesshehasn’terected，orsubscribedliberallyto。Sheturnseverytableinherhouse。Shewon’tleaveevenonealone。Herearlybreakfastsforstar—gazersarefamous，andit’simpossibletodinewithherwithoutsittingnexttoahoroscope—caster，orbeingtakenin——todinner，ofcourse——byacrystaldivineroranose—prophet。\"
\"Anose—prophet！What’sthat？\"
\"Apersonwhotellsyourfortunebytheshapeofyournose。\"
\"Oh，Isee。\"
\"Well，youunderstandnowthatthere’snosillierpersoninLondonthandearMrs。Bridgeman？\"
\"Oh，quite。\"
\"She’sdoneagreatdealforme，morethanIcaneverrepay。\"
\"Indeed。\"
\"Yes，inintroducingmetotherealinnercirclesofidiotcy。Well，inreturn，I’vesworn——\"
\"Youtoo！\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Oh，nothing。Ibegyourpardon。Pleasegoon。\"
Shelookedathimcuriously，andcontinued。
\"I’vesworn——thatis，pledgedmyhonour，youknow——\"
\"Iknow！Iknow！\"
\"Tointroducehertoatleastonethoroughlysensibleperson——aman，sheprefers。\"
\"Andyou’vechosen——？\"
\"SirTiglath，becausehe’stheonlyoneIknow。Once，Iconfess，I
thoughtofyou。\"
\"Ofme！\"
\"Yes，butofcourseIdidn’treallyknowyouthen。\"
Shelookedathimwithgenuineregard。TheProphetscarcelyknewwhethertofeeldelightedordistressed。
\"Now，yousee，Mr。Vivian，ifSirTiglathfoundoutforcertainthatI
wasMissMinerva，hemightdiscovermydoublelife，andifhedidthat，heissosensiblethatIamsurehewouldneverspeaktomeagain，andIcouldnotfulfilmyvowtodearMrs。Bridgeman。\"
\"Iquitesee。\"
\"Normyothervowtomyself。\"
\"Whichone？\"
\"Oh，nevermind。\"
\"Iwon’t。\"
\"HeonlysaidthataboutpartridgesinJanuary，Ifind，becausehehappenedtoseeoneofmylettersinJellybrand’swindow。Hedoesn’tassociatethatletterwithme。Soitoughttobeallright，andI’vearrangedmycampaign。\"
\"ButwhatcanI——？\"
ShesmiledathimwithsomeScottishcraft。
\"Don’tbother。You’vegottobemyaide—de—camp，that’sall。Ah，hereweare！\"
Foratthismomentthehorse，withagreateffortsucceededinfallingdown，forthelasttime，beforetheastronomer’sdoor。
CHAPTERXII
THEELABORATEMINDOFMISSMINERVA
Onbeingshown，byanelderlyhousekeeperwithaBerlinwoolfringe，intoanold—fashionedovalbook—room，LadyEnidandtheProphetdiscoveredtheastronomersittingthere/tete—a—tete/withamuffin，whichlayonachinaplatesurroundedbymanuscripts，letters，pamphlets，booksandblotting—paper。Hewasengagedintracinglinesuponanimmensesheetoffoolscapwiththeaidofarulerandapairofcompasses，andwhenheperceivedhisvisitors，hemerelyrolledhisglassyeyesatthem，shookhislargeheadasifinrebuke，andthenreturnedtohisoccupationwithoututteringaword。
LadyEnidwasinnowiseabashed。Shelookedmoresensibleeventhanusual，andatoncecommencedhercampaignbytheremark，——
\"IknowyouwonderwhyIwantedtoseeyouthisafternoon，SirTiglath。
Well，I’lltellyouatonce。Mr。Vivianhaspersuadedmetoactashisambassador。\"
AtthisveryunexpectedstatementtheProphetstarted，andwasabouttoutterwhatmight，perhaps，havetakentheformofacarefully—wordeddenial，whenLadyEnidmadeaviolentfaceathim，andproceeded，inacalmmanner。
\"Hewishesyoutodosomethingforhim，andhehasconfessedtomethathedoesnotquiteliketoaskyouhimself。\"
OnhearingthesewordstheProphet’sbrain，alreadysorelytriedbythetragicduelwhichhadtakenplacebetweenhimselfandthecouplewholivedbesidetheMouse，temporarilycollapsed。Heattemptednoprotest。
Hismindindeedwasnotinaconditiontoinventone。Hesimplysatdownonasmallpileofastronomicalinstrumentswhich，withsomescientificworks，anencyclopaediaandapairofcarpetslippers，occupiedthenearestchair，andwaitedinadazedmannerforwhatwouldhappennext。
SirTiglathcontinuedmeasuringanddrawinglineswithaverythinpen，andLadyEnidproceededfurthertodevelophercampaign。
\"Mr。Viviantellsme，\"shesaid，\"thathehasaveryoldanddearfriendwhoismostanxioustomakeyouracquaintance——not，ofcourse，foranyidlesocialpurpose，butinordertoconsultyouonsomeobscurepointconnectedwithastronomythatonlyyoucanrenderclear。
Isn’tthisso，Mr。Vivian？\"
TheProphetshifteduneasilyontheastronomicalinstruments，and，graspingthecarpetslipperswithonehandtosteadyhimself，inanswertoanauthoritativesignfromLadyEnid，feeblynoddedhishead。
\"But，\"LadyEnidcontinued，apparentlywarmingtoherlies，\"Mr。Vivianandhisfriend，knowinghowmuchyourtimeistakenupbyastronomicalresearchandhowintenselyvaluableitistotheworldatlarge，havenothithertodaredtointrudeuponit，althoughtheyhavewishedtodosoforaverylongtime，andhaveevenmadeoneattempt——attheColleyCibberClub。\"
TheProphetgasped。SirTiglathtookabitoutofthemuffinandreturnedtohistracingandmeasuring。
\"Onthatoccasionyoumayremember，\"LadyEnidwentonwithincreasingvivacityandassurance，\"youdeclinedtospeak。ThisnaturallydampedMr。Vivian——whoisverysensitive，thoughyoumightnotthinkit\"——hereshecastaglanceattheinstrumentsonwhichtheProphetsat——\"andhisfriend。Somuchso，infact，thatunlessIhadundertakentoactforthemIdaresaytheywouldhaveletthematterdrop。Wouldn’tyou，Mr。
Vivian？\"sheaddedswiftlytotheProphet。
\"Certainly，\"heanswered，likeacreatureinadream。\"Certainly。\"
\"Moreespeciallyasthefriend，Mrs。VaneBridgeman\"——theProphetatthispointmadeaninarticulate，butveryaudible，noisethatmighthavemeantanything，andthatdidinfactmean\"MercifulHeavens！whatwillbecomeofme？\"——\"Mrs。VaneBridgemanisalsoofaveryretiringdispositionandwouldhatetoputsuchamanasyouaretotheslightestinconvenience。\"
SirTiglathtookanotherbiteatthemuffin，whichseemedtobegettingtheworstofthe/tete—a—tete/，rummagedamongthemessofthingsthatloadedhistabletillhefoundagiganticbook，openedit，andbegantocomparesomemeasurementsinitwiththosehehadmadeonthefoolscappaper。Hisbrick—redfaceglistenedinthelightofthelampthatstoodbesidehim。Hismoistredlipsshone，andheseemedtotallyunawarethattherewasanyoneinthechamberendeavouringtogainhisattention。
\"Inthesecircumstances，SirTiglath，\"LadyEnidwenton，withpleasantease，andasortofhomespunself—possessionthattrumpeted，likeamilitaryband，hersensibleness，\"Mr。Vivianconsultedmeastowhattodo；whethertogivethewholethingup，ortomakeanappealtoyouattheriskofdisturbingyouandtakingupalittleofyourprecioustime。Whenhehadexplainedtheaffairtome，however，Iatoncefeltcertainthatyouwouldwishtoknowofit。Didn’tI，Mr。Vivian？Didn’tIsay，onlythisafternoon，thatwemustatoncetakeafour—wheelertoSirTiglath’s？\"
\"Yes，youdid，\"saidtheProphet，inamuffledvoice。
\"ForIknewthatnoinvestigation，noserious，reverentinvestigationintoheavenly，thatisstarry，conditionscouldbeindifferenttoyou，SirTiglath。\"
Theastronomer，whohadbeenintheactofliftingthelastmorselofthemuffintohismouth，putitdownagain，andLadyEnid，thusvehementlyencouraged，wentonmorerapidly。
\"YouknowofMr。Vivian’sinterest，almostmorethaninterest，intheplanets。Thisinterestisshared，wasindeedpromptedbyMrs。
Bridgeman，awomanofseriousattainmentsandacultivatedmind。Isn’tshe，Mr。Vivian？\"
TheProphetheardavoicereply，\"Oh，yes，sheis。\"Heoftenwonderedafterwardswhetheritwashisown。
\"Itseemsthatshe，duringcertainresearches，hituponanideawithregardto——well，shallIsaywithregardtocertainstars？——whichshecommunicatedtoMr。Vivianinthehopethathewouldcarryitfurther，andinfactclearitup。Didn’tshe，Mr。Vivian？\"
\"Oh，yes，shedid，\"saidavoice，towhichtheProphetagainlistenedwithstrainedattention。
\"ItwasinconnectionwiththisideathatMr。Viviandevelopedhisenthusiasmforthetelescope——whichledhim，perhaps，alittletoofar，SirTiglath，butI’msureMrs。Merilliaandyouhavequiteforgottenthat！\"
HereLadyEnidpaused，andtheastronomerachievedthefinalconquestofthemuffin。
\"HeandMrs。Bridgemanhavebeen，infact，workingtogether，shebeingthebrain，asitwere，andMr。Viviantheeye。You’vebeentheeye，Mr。
Vivian？\"
\"I’vebeentheeye。\"
\"But，despitealltheirardourandassiduity，theyhavecometoasortofdeadlock。Inthesecircumstancestheycometoyou，makingme——asyour，mayIsayintimate，friend？——theirmouthpiece。\"
HereLadyEnidpausedratherdefinitely，andcastaglanceofapparentlyviolentinvitationattheProphet，asifsuggestingthathemustnowamplifyandfillinherstory。Ashedidnotdoso，aheavysilencefellintheroom。SirTiglathhadreturnedtohismeasuring，andLadyEnid，forthefirsttime，begantolookslightlyembarrassed。
Sendinghereyesvaguelyabouttheapartment，aspeopledoonsuchoccasions，shechancedtoseeanewspaperlyingonthefloorneartoher。Shebentdowntowardsit，thenraisingherselfupshesaid，——
\"Mrs。Bridgemansometimeagocametotheconclusionthattherewasprobablyoxygenincertainstars，andnotonlyinthefixedstars。\"
Atthisremarktheastronomer’scountenancecompletelychanged。Heswungroundinhisrevolvingchair，waggedhishugeheadfromsidetoside，andfinallyroaredattheProphet，——
\"Isshetellingthetruth？\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"saidtheProphet，boundingontheinstruments。
\"Getoffthoseprecioustools，youngman，farmorevaluablethanyourfinitecarcase！Getoffthemthismomentandanswerme——isthisyoungfemalespeakingthetruth？\"
TheProphetgotofftheinstrumentsand，inanswertoafirm，ScottishgesturefromLadyEnid，noddedhisheadtwice。
\"What！\"continuedSirTiglath，puffingouthischeeks，\"awomanbeapioneeramongtheHeavenlyBodies！\"
TheProphetnoddedagain，asmechanicallyasapennytoy。
\"Theoldastronomerisexercised，\"bawledSirTiglath，witheverysymptomofacuteperturbation。\"Heisgreatlyexercisedbythenarrativeoftheyoungfemale！\"
Sosaying，heheavedhimselfupoutofhischairandbegantorollrapidlyupanddowntheroom，alternatelydistendinghischeeksandpermittingthemtocollapse。
\"Ishouldtellyoualso，SirTiglath，\"interposedLadyEnid，asifstruckbyasuddenidea，\"thatMrs。Bridgeman’soriginaladviserandassistantinherastronomicalresearcheswasacertainMr。Sagittarius，whoisalsoanintimatefriendofMr。Vivian’s。\"
TheProphetsatdownagainupontheinstrumentswithathud。
\"Getoffthoseprecioustools，youngman！\"roaredtheastronomerfuriously。\"Wouldyouimposeyourvilebodyuponthehenchmenofthestars？\"
TheProphetgotupagainandleanedagainstthewall。
\"Ifeelunwell，\"hesaidinalowvoice。\"Exceedinglyunwell。IregretthatImustreallybegoing。\"
LadyEniddidnotseemtoregretthisabruptindisposition。Perhapsshethoughtthatshehadalreadyaccomplishedherpurpose。Atanyrateshegotuptoo，andpreparedtotakeleave。Theastronomerwasstillingreatexcitement。
\"WhoisthisMr。Sagittarius？\"hebellowed。
\"Amanofscience。Isn’the，Mr。Vivian？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Anastronomerofremarkableattainments，Mr。Vivian？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Oneknowsnothisabnormalname，\"criedtheastronomer。
\"Heisverymodest，veryretiring。Mrs。Bridgeman’sisreallytheonlyhouseinLondonatwhichyoucanmeethim。Isn’tthatso，Mr。Vivian？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Yousayhehasmadeinvestigationintothepossibilityoftherebeingoxygeninmanyoftheholystars？\"
\"Mr。Vivian！\"
\"Yes。\"