\"Theoldastronomermustencounterhim！\"exclaimedSirTiglath，puffingfuriouslyasherolledabouttheroom。
\"Mr。Vivianwillarrangeit，\"LadyEnidsaid，withsparklingeyes，\"atMrs。Bridgeman’s。That’sabargain。Come，Mr。Vivian！\"
AndalmostbeforetheProphetknewwhatshewasdoing，shehadmaneuveredhimoutintoKensingtonSquare，andwaspioneeringhimswiftlytowardstheHighstreet。
\"We’lltakeahansomhome，\"shesaidgaily，\"andthemancandriveasfastaseverhelikes。\"
InhalfaminutetheProphetfoundhimselfinahansom，bowlingalongtowardsMayfair。Thefirstwordshesaid，whenhewasabletospeak，were，——
\"Why——Mr。Sagittarius——oh，why？\"
LadyEnidsmiledhappily。
\"ItjuststruckmewhileIwastalkingtoSirTiglaththatIwouldintroduceMr。Sagittariusintotheaffair。\"
\"Oh，why？\"
\"Why——becauseitseemedsuchanutterlysillythingtodo，\"sheanswered。\"Didn’tit？\"
TheProphetwassilent。
\"Didn’tit？\"sherepeated。\"AthingworthyofMissMinerva。\"
ItseemedtotheProphetjustthenasifMissMinervaweregoingtowreckhislifeandpreparehimaccuratelyforafutureinBedlam。
\"Andbesidesyouwouldn’ttellmewhoMr。Sagittariuswas，\"sheadded。
TheProphetbegantorealisethatitisverydangerousindeedtodenythecuriosityofawoman。
\"Whatamercyitis，\"LadyEnidcontinuedlightly，\"thatMalkielisasyndicate，insteadofaman。Ifhewasn’t，andSirTiglathevergottoknowhim，hewouldtrytomurderhim，andhowfoolishthatwouldbe！Itwouldberatheramusing，though，toseeSirTiglathdoathoroughlyfoolishthing，wouldn’tit！\"
TheProphet’sbloodrancoldinthecab，ashebegan，forthefirsttime，toseeclearlyintotheelaboratemindofMissMinerva，intothecuriouslydeliberatecomplicationsofadefiniteanddeterminedfolly。
HeperceivedthedangerthatthreatenedtheprophetwhodweltbesidetheMouse，buthehadrecoveredhimselfbythistimesufficientlytomeetcraftwithcraft。Andhethereforeansweredcarelessly，——
\"Yes，itisluckythatMalkiel’sasyndicate。\"
WhentheyreachedHillstreetLadyEnidsaid，——
\"I’msomuchobligedtoyou，Mr。Vivian，forallyou’vedoneforMissMinerva。\"
\"Notatall。\"
\"ThenextstepistointroduceyoutoMrs。Bridgeman，andyoucanintroducehertoMr。Sagittarius。ThenI’llintroduceSirTiglathtoherandshewillintroduceMr。Sagittariustohim。Itallworksoutsobeautifully！Thankyouathousandtimes。You’llhearfromme。ProbablyI’llgiveyouyourdirectionshowtoactto—morrow。Good—night。\"
TheProphetdroveontoBerkeleySquare，feelingthat，betweenMr。andMadameSagittariusandMissMinerva，hewasbeingrapidlydirectedtohisdoom。
CHAPTERXIII
THEPROPHETISINTERVIEWEDBYTWOKIDS
Mr。FerdinandmettheProphetinthehall。
\"Ihavedoneasyoudirected，sir，\"hesaidrespectfully。
\"AsIdirected，Mr。Ferdinand？IwasnotawarethatIeverdirectedanybody，\"repliedtheProphet，suspectingirony。
\"Iunderstoodyoutosay，sir，thatifanymoretelegramswastoarrive，Iwastoburnthem，sir。\"
\"Telegrams！GoodHeavens！Youdon’tmeantosaythat——\"
\"Therehasbeensomeseventeenoreighteen，sir。Ihaveburntthem，sir，toashes，accordingtoyourorders。\"
\"Quiteright，Mr。Ferdinand，\"saidtheProphet，puttinghishanduptohishair，tofeelifitwereturninggrey。\"Quiteright。Howis——how，I
say，isMrs。Merillia？\"
\"Well，MasterHennessey，she’snotdeadyet。\"
AndMr。Ferdinand，withacontortedcountenancemovedtowardstheservants’hall。
TheProphetstoodquitestillwithhishatandcoatonforseveralminutes。Anamazingself—possessionhadcometohim，theunnaturalself—possessionofdespair。Hefeltquitecalm，asthestatueofadeadaldermanfeelsontheembankmentofitsnativecity。Nothingseemedtomatteratall。HemighthavebeenMarcusAurelius——tillalouddoubleknockcametothefrontdoor。Thenhemighthavebeenanydangerouslunatic，ripeforastraitwaistcoat。Mr。Ferdinandapproached。TheProphetfacedhim。
\"Kindlyretire，Mr。Ferdinand，\"hesaidinaveryquietvoice。\"Iwillanswerthatknock。\"
Mr。Ferdinandretiredratherrapidly。Theknockwasrepeated。TheProphetopenedthedoor。Atelegraphboy，abouttwoandahalffeethigh，stoodoutsideuponthestep。
\"Telegram，sir，\"hesaidinathinvoice。
\"Giveittome，mylad，\"repliedtheProphet。
Thesmallboyhandedthetelegramandturnedtodepart。
\"Waitamoment，mylad，\"saidtheProphet，verygently。
Thesmallboywaited。
\"Doyouwishtobestrangled，mylad？\"askedtheProphet。
Thesmallboytriedtorecoil，buthisterrorrootedhimfirmlytothespot。
\"Doalltheotherboysattheofficewishtobestrangled？\"continuedtheProphet。\"Come，mylad，whydon’tyouanswerme？\"
\"No，sir，\"whisperedthesmallboy，passinghislittletongueoverhispalelips。
\"Verywell，mylad，thenextboywhobringsatelegramtothishousewillbestrangled，doyouunderstandthat？\"
\"Yes，sir，\"sighedthesmallboy，likeaterror—strickenZephyr。
\"That’sright。Good—night，mylad。\"
TheProphetclosedthestreetdoorverysoftly，andthesmallboydroppedfaintingonthepavementandwascarriedtothenearesthospitalonastretcherbytwodutifulpolicemen。
MeanwhiletheProphetopenedthetelegramandreadasfollows：——
\"Insufferableinsolence。Howdareyou；shallpaydearly；withyouto—morrowfirst’bus。
\"JUPITERANDMADAMESAGITTARIUS。\"
\"Mr。Ferdinand！\"calledtheProphet。
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Iamabouttowriteatelegram。Gustavuswilltakeittotheoffice。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
TheProphetwentintothelibraryandwrotethesewordsonatelegraphform：——
\"JupiterSagittarius，SagittariusLodge，CramptonSt。Peter，N。
Yourlifeisindanger；keepwhereyouare；anothertelegrammaydestroyyou。Gravenews。
\"VIVIAN。\"
TheProphetgavethistelegramtoGustavusandthenpreparedtogoupstairstohisgrandmother。Ashemountedtowardsthedrawing—roomhemurmuredtohimselfoverandoveragain，——
\"SirTiglath——Malkiel！Malkiel——SirTiglath！\"
HefoundMrs。Merilliaveryprostrate。Itseemedthatthetelegraphboyshadverysoonwornthroughthecotton—woolwithwhichtheknockerhadbeenshrouded，andthattheincessantnoiseoftheireffortstoattractattentionatthedoorhadquiteunnervedthegallantoldlady。
Nevertheless，herownconditionwasthelastthingshethoughtof。
\"Idon’tmindformyself，Hennessey，\"shesaid。\"Butitisverysadafteralltheseyearsofrespectandeven，Ithink，acertainpopularity，tobeconsideredanuisancebyone’ssquare。WearehopelesslyembroiledwiththeDuchessofCamberwell，andtheLordChancellorhassentoverfivetimestoexplainthedifferentlawsandregulationsthatwearebreaking。Idon’tseehowyoucangotohisReceptionto—night，really。\"
\"Iamnotgoing，grannie，\"saidtheProphet，overwhelmedwithcontrition。\"Icannotgoinanycase。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"I——Ihavesomeworktodoathome。\"
Heavoidedtheglanceofherbrighteyes，andcontinued。
\"Grannie，Iamdeeplygrievedatallyouhavegonethroughto—day。
Believemeithasnotbeenmyfault——atleastnotentirely。Imayhavebeeninjudicious，butInever——never——\"
Hepaused，quiteovercomewithemotion。
\"Idon’tknowwhatwillhappenifthetelegramsgoontillmidnight，\"
saidMrs。Merillia。\"TheDukeofCamberwellisaveryviolentman，sincehehadthatsunstrokeatthelastJubilee，andIshouldn’twonderifhe——\"
\"Grannie，therewillnotbeanymoretelegrams。\"
\"Butyousaidthatbefore，Hennessey。\"
\"AndIsayitagain。Therewillnotbeanymore。Ihavejustinformedthemessengerthatthenextboywhoknockswillcertainlybe——well，destroyed。\"
Mrs。Merilliabreathedasighofrelief。
\"Iamsothankful，Hennessey。Areyoudiningoutto—night？\"
\"No，grannie。Idon’tfeelverywell。Ihaveaheadache。Ishallgoandliedownforalittle。\"
\"Yes，do。Everybodyislyingdown；Fancy，theupperhousemaid，thecook。EvenGustavus，theytellme，istryingtosnatchalittleuneasyreposeonhiswhat—not。Ithasbeenaterribleday。\"
Mrs。Merillialaybackandclosedhereyes，andtheProphet，overwhelmedwithremorse，retiredtohisroom，laydownandstareddesperatelyatnothingforhalfanhour。Hethenate，withaverypoorappetite，amorselofdinnerandpreparedtotake，ifpossible，ashortnapbeforestartingonthelaboursofthenight。AshegotupfromthediningtabletogoupstairshesaidtoMr。Ferdinand，——
\"Bytheway，Mr。Ferdinand，ifIshouldcomeintothepantryagainto—
night，don’tbealarmed。ImaychancetorequireabradawlasIdidlastnight。Kindlyleaveoneout，incaseIshould。Butyouneednotsitup。\"
AstheProphetsaidthelastwordshelookedMr。Ferdinandfullintheface。Thebutler’seyesfell。
\"Thankyou，MasterHennessey，Ishallbegladtogettobed——entirelytobed——ingoodtime。Weareallabitupsetinthekit——thatisthehallto—day。\"
\"Justso。Retiretorestatonceifyoulike。\"
\"Thankyou，sir。\"
\"Gustavus，\"saidMr。Ferdinand，amomentlaterintheservants’hall，\"youareamanoftheworld，Ibelieve。\"
Gustavusrousedhimselfonhiswhat—not。
\"Iam，Mr。Ferdinand，\"hereplied，inapaleandexhaustedmanner。
\"Thentellme，Gustavus，haveyoueverlivedinservicewithagentlemanwhowaspartialtoabradawl——ofanight，youunderstand？\"
\"No，never，Mr。Ferdinand。ThenearesttoiteverIgotwastheBishopofClapham。\"
\"Explainyourself，Gustavus，Ibeg。\"
\"Heusedtoaskforanipsometimesbeforeretiring，Mr。Ferdinand。\"
\"Anip，Gustavus？\"
\"Warmwater，withasliceoftoastinit。Buthewasonlywhattheycallasuburbanbishop，Mr。Ferdinand。\"
\"Ah！anipishardlyonallfourswithabradawl，Gustavus。\"
\"P’r’apsnot，Mr。Ferdinand，butit’sthenearesteverIgottoit。\"
Mr。Ferdinandsaidnomore，butwhenheretiredtorestthatnighthedouble—lockedhisdoor，anddreamtofbradawlstillhewoke，unrefreshed，thenextmorningtofindtheareafulloftelegrams。
MeanwhiletheProphetwasconscientiouslyfulfillinghispromiseandkeepingtheoathhehadpledgedhishonourover，althoughhehadtoworkunderagravedisadvantageinthetotallossofhisplanisphere，orstar—map。
Heenteredthebutler’spantrypreciselyonthestrokeofeleven，andfoundit，tohisgreatrelief，untenanted。Thedwarfwasnolongeratthetelescope，andthesilenceintheregiondedicatedtoMrs。
Merillia’smenialswasprofound。Thenight，too，wasclearandstarry，propitiousforpropheticlabours，andastheProphetgazedoutuponthedesertedsquarethroughtheopenwindowastrangepeacedescendeduponhisfeveredsoul。Nature，withallhershiningmysteries，herdistantreticencesandrevelations，calmedtheturmoilwithinhim。Helookeduponthearearailingsanduponthesky，andsmiled。
Thenhelookedforthestar—map。Heperceivedinaveryprominentpositionuponasilversalver，thebradawllaidout，accordingtoorder，bytheobedientMr。Ferdinand。Heperceivedalsotheopenpotof\"Butler’sOwnSpecialPomade，\"buttheplanispherehadbeenremovedfromit。Wherecouldithavebeenbestowed？TheProphetinstitutedacarefulsearch。Heexploredcupboards，drawers——suchatleastaswereunlocked——invain。Heglancedintoasilverteapotreposingonashelf，betweenthepagesofanalmanachangingonthewall，amongsomebacknumbersofthe/Butler’sGazette/，whichwerelyinginacorner。Buttheplanispherewasnowheretobefound，andatlastindespairheresolvedtodowithoutit，andtotrusttohisfairlyaccurateknowledgeoftheheavens。He，therefore，tookuphisstationbythewindowandproceededtoextractfromthepocketofhissmoking—jackettheaccount—bookinwhichhehaddotteddownthedirectionsof\"Madameandself。\"Theywereveryvague，forhisdotshadbeenagitated。Still，bythehelpoftheGeorgetheThirdcandlestick，inwhichwasalightedtaper，theProphetwasabletomakeoutenoughtorefreshhismemory。
Hewastobeginbyplacinghisbelovedgrandmotherintheclawsofthecrab。Leaninguponthesillofthewindowhefoundthecraband——
breathingashortprayerforforgiveness——committedhisdearrelationtoitsoffices。Hethenretreatedand，assumingverymuchthepositionofMr。Ferdinand，appliedhisrighteyetothetelescope，atthesametimeholdinghislefteyefirmlyshutwiththeforefingerofhislefthand。Atoncethemajestyofthestarryheavensburstuponhiminallitsglory。
Exactlyathalf—pastoneo’clock，twohoursandahalflater，theenthralledProphetheardalowwhistlewhichseemedtoreachhimfromthesquare。Hewithdrewhisfascinatedrighteyefromthetelescopeandendeavouredtouseitinanordinarymanner，buthecouldatfirstseenothing。Thelowwhistlewasrepeated。Itcertainlydidcomefromthesquare，andtheProphetapproachedtheopenwindowandoncemoretriedtocompeltheeyethathadlookedsolonguponthestarstogazewithunderstandingupontheearth。Thistimeheperceivedablackthing，likeablot，aboutsixfeethigh，beyondthearearailings。Fromthisblotcameathirdwhistle。TheProphet，whowasstilldazedbythefascinationofstar—gazing，mechanicallywhistledinreply，whereupontheblotwhisperedathimhuskily，——
\"Atitagain，areyou？\"
\"Yes，\"whisperedtheProphet，alsohuskily，forthenightairwascold。
\"Buthowshouldyouknow？\"
Indeedhewondered；anditseemedtohimasiftheblotweresomestrangenightthingthatmusthavecompanionedhim，invisibly，whenhekepthisnocturnalwatchesinthedrawing—room，andthatnowpartiallyrevealeditselftohiminthe，perhaps，moreacutelyoccultregionofthebasement。
\"HowshouldIknow！\"rejoinedtheblotwithobvious，thoughveryhoarse，irony。\"Whateverd’youtakemefor？\"
TheProphetbegantowonder，butbeforehehadgoneonwonderingformorethanabouthalfaminute，theblotcontinued，——
\"She’sgonetobed。\"
\"Iknowshehas，\"saidtheProphet，presumingthattheblot，whichseemedinstinctwithallknowledge，wasreferringtohisgrandmother。
\"Butsheknowsyou’reatitagain，\"continuedtheblot。
TheProphetstartedviolentlyandleaneduponthewindow—sill。
\"No！Howcanthatbe？\"heejaculated。
\"Ho！Themgirlsknowseverything，especiallytheolduns，\"saidtheblot，withanaudiblechuckle。
\"Goodgracious！\"gaspedtheProphet，overwhelmedatthismysteriousvisitant’sfamiliardescriptionofhisreveredgrandmother。
\"Haveyouseenherto—night？\"inquiredtheblot，controllingitsmerriment。
\"Yes，\"saidtheProphet。\"WiththeCrab。\"
\"What！\"criedtheblot，inobviousastonishment。\"Theminstrumentsmustbewonderfulsight—carriers。\"
\"Theyare，\"exclaimedtheProphet，withalmostmysticenthusiasm。
\"Wonderful。IhaveseenherwiththeCrabdistinctly。\"
\"Ah！well，Itoldhersheoughttokeepawayfromit，\"continuedtheblot。
\"Didyou？\"saidtheProphet，withincreasingsurprise。\"Buthowcouldshe？\"
\"Ah！that’sjustit！Shecouldn’t。\"
\"No，ofcoursenot。\"
\"Shewasdrawnrighttoit。\"
\"Shewas。Itwasn’therfault。ItwastheCrab’s。\"
\"Apityitwasdressed。\"
\"What？\"
\"Isayit’sapity’twasdressed。\"
\"Whatwasdressed？\"
\"What！why，theCrab！\"
\"TheCrab——dressed！\"
\"Ay。They’readealsafernotdressed。\"
\"Arethey？\"
\"Sheknowsittoo。\"
\"Doesshe？\"
\"Butthere——themwomenlikesaspiceofdanger。She’sinanicestatenow，youbet。Notmuchsleepforher，I’lllay。Well，Itriedtokeepherfromit，soyouneedn’tblameme。\"
\"Iwon’t，\"saidtheProphet，feelingcompletelydazed。
\"Well，go’—night。I’moffroundthesquare。\"
\"Good—night，\"saidtheProphet。
Suddenlyablindingflashoflightdazzledhiseyes。Hecoveredthemwithhishands。Whenhecouldseeagaintheblotwasgone。
Althoughhewasretiredtorestthatnightwhentheclockstruckthree，theProphetdidnotsleep。Hisnervoussystemwasinaconditionofacuteexcitement。Hisbrainfeltlikeaburningball，andthepalmsofhishandswerehotwithfever。Forthespiritofprophecywasuponhimoncemore，andhewasboundfastinthegoldenmagicofthestars。Likethemorphiamaniacwho，aftervaliantfasting，returningtohisdrug，feelsitsinfluencethestrongerforhisabstinencefromit，theProphetwasconsciousthattheheavensheldmorepower，moremeaningforhimbecause，forawhile，hehadintendedtoneglectthem。Hewasravagedbytheirmystery，theirmajestyandrevelation。
Whenhecamedowninthemorningpale，dishevelled，butinformedbyacuriousdignity，hewasmetatoncebyMr。Ferdinand。
\"Ihaveclearedthearea，sir，\"saidthefunctionary。
\"Thearea，Mr。Ferdinand。Whatof？\"
\"Telegrams，sir。Theboysmusthavethrown’emdownwithoutknocking。\"
\"Veryprobably，\"repliedtheProphet。\"Theircomradewasright。Theydidnotwishtobestrangled。\"
\"No，sir。AndIhaveplacedtheminabasketonthebreakfasttable，sir，whileawaitingyourorders。\"
\"Quiteright，Mr。Ferdinand。Bytheway，hereisthebradawl。Leaveitoutagainto—nightincaseIhaveneedofit。\"
Sosaying，theProphethandedthebradawl，whichhehadcraftilyconveyedfromthepantryonthepreviousnight，totheastonishedbutlerandwalkedswiftlyintothebreakfast—room。Thebasketoftelegramswassetoutsidebesideafriedsoleandthe\"equipage\"whichMadamehadsomuchadmired，and，whilehesippedhistea，theProphetopenedthewiresonebyone。Theywerefraughtwithterroranddismay。
EvidentlyhismysteriouswarninghadthrowntheworthieswhodweltbesidetheMouseintoaconditionoftheverygravestamazementandalarm，andtheyhad，despitetheProphet’sfinalinjunction，spenttheremainingtelegraphichoursofthedayindespatchingwiresoffranticinquirytothesquare。Madame，inparticular，wasevidentlymuchupset，andexpressedherangryagitationinadeadlanguagethatseemedpositivelytoliveagaininfearandnoveltyofgrammaticalconstruction。SirTiglathhadbeenabrilliantcardtoplayinthepropheticgame，althoughhehadnotachievedtheProphet’spurposeofstoppingthetelegraphicflood。
WhiletheProphetwassimultaneouslyfinishingthefriedsoleandtheperusalofthefinalwireMr。Ferdinandentered，inaconditionofobviousastonishmentthatmightwellhavecosthimhisplace。
\"Ifyouplease，sir，\"hesaid，inanup—and—downvoice，\"ifyoupleasetherearetwo——two——two——\"
\"Twowhat？Bemoreexplicit，Mr。Ferdinand。\"
\"Two——well，sir，kidsatthedoorwaitingforyoutoseethem，sir。\"
\"Twokids！What——fromthegoatshowthat’sgoingonattheWestminsterAquarium！\"criedtheProphetingreatsurprise。
\"Maybe，sir。Ican’tsay，indeed，sir。AmItoshowthemin，sir？\"
\"Showthemin！Areyougonemad，Mr。Ferdinand？Theymustbedrivenoutatonce。IfMrs。Merilliaweretoseethem，shemightbegreatlyalarmed。I’ll——I’ll——followme，Mr。Ferdinand，closely。\"
SosayingtheProphetsteppedvaliantlyintothehall。There，bytheumbrellastand，stoodtwosmallchildren，boyandgirl，veryneatlydressedinasailorsuitandagreymerino。Thelittleboyheldinhishandalargeroundstrawhat，ontheblueribandofwhichwasinscribedinlettersofgold，\"H。M。S。Hercules。\"Thelittlegirlworeapleasantpigtailtiedwitharibandofthesamehue。
ThemeaningofMr。Ferdinand’svulgarandmisleadingslangsuddenlydawnedontheProphet。HecastalookofverygraverebukeonMr。
Ferdinand，then，walkinguptothelittleboyandgirlhesaidinhismostingratiatingmanner，——
\"Well，mylittleones，whatcanIdoforyou？\"
\"Notsolittle，ifyouplease，Mr。Vivian，\"repliedtheboyinapiping，butveryself—possessedvoice。\"Canweseeyouinprivateforamoment？\"
\"Ifyouplease，Mr。Vivian，\"addedthelittlegirl。\"Sisitprudentium。\"
\"Dentia，Corona，\"correctedthelittleboy。
TheProphetturnedwhitetotheverylips。
\"Certainly，certainly，\"hesaidinaviolentlyfurtivemanner。\"Comethisway，mychildren。Mr。Ferdinand，ifMrs。Merilliashouldinquireforme，youwillsaythatI’mbusywriting——no，no，justbusy——verybusy。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"I’mnottobedisturbed。Thisway，mylittleones。\"
\"Notsolittle，Mr。Vivian，\"pipedagainthesmallboy，trottingobediently，withhissister，intotheProphet’slibrary，thedoorofwhichwasimmediatelyclosedbehindthem。
\"Well，I’m——\"saidMr。Ferdinand。\"Kidsinthelibrary！Iam——
Gustavus！\"
Herushedfreneticallytowardstheservants’halltoconferuponthesituationwithhisintellectualsubordinate。
MeanwhiletheProphetwasclosetedwiththetwokids。
\"Praysitdown，\"hesaid，verynervously，andsmilingforcibly。\"Praysitdown，mydears。\"
Thekidsobeyedwithaplomb，keepingtheirlargeandstrainedeyesfixedupontheProphet。
\"IsitCoronusandCapricorna？\"continuedtheProphet，withaneffortafterblithefamiliarity。\"Isit？\"
\"No，\"pipedthelittleboy。\"Itisn’tCoronusandCapricorna。\"
AmarvelloussensationofreliefinvadedtheProphet。
\"ThankHeaven！\"heejaculatedinasigh。\"Ithoughtitmustbe。\"
\"It’sCoronaandCapricornus，\"continuedthelittleboy。\"Andwe’vebroughtyoualetterfrompaterfamilias。\"
\"Andmaterfamiliaris，\"addedthelittlegirl。
\"Milias，Corona，\"correctedthelittleboy。\"Hereitis，Mr。Vivian，\"
headded，drawingalargemissivefromthebreastofhisblue—and—whitesailor’sblouse。\"Paterandmaterfamiliascouldn’tbringitthemselves，becausehesaiditwasn’tsafeforhimtocome，andshe’slyingdownillatwhatyousenttoher。Itwasn’tkindofyou，wasit？\"
Sosaying，hehandedthemissivetotheProphet，whotookitanxiously。
\"Wouldyoulikesomecake，mylit——Imean，mydears，whileIreadthis？\"
\"No，thankyou。Cakeisbadforusinthemorning，\"repliedthelittleboy。\"Youshouldn’teatitsoearly。\"
TheProphetwasabouttoreplythatheneverdidwhenitstruckhimthatargumentwouldprobablybeuseless。He，therefore，hastenedtoopentheletter，whichprovedtobefromMr。Sagittarius，andwhichranasfollows：——
\"SIR，——Yourterribleandmysteriouswire，comingafteryourequallyterribleandmysterioussilence，hascauseddevastationinahithertopeacefulandhappyfamily。Towhatperildoyouallude？