\"ForyearsshehasbeenwritingtomeatJellybrand’s，undermyrealnameofMalkieltheSecond，youunderstand。Sheaddressesmesimplyasthemaster。’\"
\"Butdothepostalauthorities——\"
\"Notupontheenvelope，sir，notupontheenvelope。\"
\"Isee。\"
\"Hitherto，truetomyself，truetotheprinciplesofMalkieltheFirst，andtotheinstinctsofMadame，Ihavedeclinedherpersonalacquaintance。ButthereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldnotintroducemetothehouseasMr。Sagittarius，noreasonatall。\"
TheProphetknewonlytoowellthattherewasnot，butbeforehehadtimetogoontryingtowriggleoutofthecomplication，Madamestruckin。
\"MissMinervaistobepresentatthisreception，Ibelieve，\"shesaidsharply。
\"Yes，sheis，\"answeredtheProphet，illuminedbyarayofhope。
\"Jupiter，\"saidMadame，\"IwillaccompanyyouandMr。ViviantotheZoologicalGardensto—night。Itismysacredduty。\"
TheProphetgroaned。
\"But，mydarling——\"
\"Thereceptionover，IwillassistyouandMr。VivianatthetelescopeintheBerkeleySquare。InyourpresenceIcandosowithoutdepartingfrommyprinciples，/salvopudoribus/。Donotinterruptme，Jupiter，ifyouplease。Ihavethoughtthematterout。Thecrisisinourfateisathand。Upontheeventsofthenextthreenightsdependsourfuture。
ThesemysteriousmessagesofwhichMr。Vivianspeaksmustbeexaminedintobyusuponthespot。ThismysteryofthedressedCrabmustbemadeclear。Awoman’sintellectisneeded。Awoman’sintellectshallnotbewanting。IllasIam，worndownbytheoccurrencesofyesterdayandbythisgentleman’sincessanttelegrams，Iwillleavemybooks\"——hereshewavedonehandtowardsthedwarfbookcase——\"Iwillassumeanappropriate/neglige/andmyoutdoorboots，afichuandbonnet，andwillaccompanyyouatoncetotheBerkeleySquare，theretoconferandarrangetheprogrammeoftheevening。Mrs。Bridgemanwouldfalldownbeforeusinworshipcouldsheknowwhowereallyare。Asitis，Mr。
Vivianwillintroduceusmodestlyastwooldandvaluedfriends。Thetimemaybeathandwhenweneednolongerhideourselvesbeneathan/alibi/。Tillthenwemustpossessourselves，andMr。Vivianmustpossessus，inpatience。IllasIam，Iwillaccompanyyou。To—nightshallseemeintheZoologicalGardensatmyhusband’sside。\"
Beforetheprospectofthissublimeself—sacrificebothMr。SagittariusandtheProphetwereasmendumb。Theysaidnotaword。Theyonlygazed——withasortofstrangeidiotcy——atMadameassherose，withanelaborateandstudiedfeebleness，fromthemarooncouchandpreparedtogoupstairstoassumetheappropriate/neglige/。OnlywhenshewasatherfullheightdidtheProphet，rendereddesperatebytheterribleresultsofhisowningenuity，nervehimselftoutteronelastprotest。
\"Ireallydonotthinkitwouldbequiteaccordingtotherulesofetiquettewhichprevailinthecentraldistricts，\"hecried，\"foraladytospendthenightinthebutler’spantryofacomparativestranger，evenwhenaccompaniedbyherhusband。Itmightgiverisetotalkinthesquare，and——\"
\"Thebutler’spantry，sir！\"exclaimedMr。Sagittarius。\"Explainyourself，Ibeg。\"
\"Thetelescopeisthere，and——\"
\"Ihavepassedbeyondthereachofetiquette，\"saidMadame，lookingconsiderablylikeJoanofArcandotherwell—knownheroines。\"Mydutyliesplainbeforeme。OfmyselfIshouldnothaveselectedtheZoologicalGardensandthebutler’spantryofacomparativestrangerasplacesinwhichtopassthenight，evenwhenaccompaniedbymyhusband。
Butmyconscience——/mensconsciumrecto/——guidesmeandIwillnotresistit。Iwillassumemy/neglige/andbonnetandwillbewithyouinamoment。\"
Sosayingshemajesticallyquittedtheapartment。
TheProphetfelldownuponthemaroonsofalikeamansmittenwithparalysis。Hefeltsuddenlyold，andveryweak。Hetriedtothink，toconsiderhowhecouldexplainMadameSagittariustohisgrandmother——
forshemustsurelynowbecomeawareofthepresenceofstrangersinherprettyhome——howhecouldarrangematterswithMr。Ferdinand，howhecouldapologisetoaladywhomhehadneveryetseenforappearingatherhousewithtwouninvitedguests，howhecouldgetridoftheSagittariuseswhenthehorriblenightwatchshouldbeatanendandthefrigidwinterdawnbenear。Buthismindrefusedtowork。Hisbrainwasablank，containingnothingexcept，perhaps，avaguedesireforsuddendeath。Mr。Sagittariusdidnotdisturbhiscontemplationoftheinevitable。Indeed，thatgentlemanalsoseemedmeditative，andthesilencelasteduntilthereappearanceofMadame，inabrownrobe——ofaslightlytea—gowntype——trimmedwithgreenchiffonandcoffee—colouredlace，ablackbonnetadornedwithaboutascoreofimitationplumsmadeinsomehighly—glazedmaterial，aheavycloaklinedwithpricelessrabbit—skins，andtheoutdoorboots。
IftheProphethadfoundthejourneytotheMouseapainfulexperience，whatcanbesaidofhisfeelingsduringthejourneyfromthatnoblestream？LongafterwardsherecalledhisstateofmindduringthetrampacrosstheCommonamongthebrokencrockery，thedust—heaps，thedecayingvegetablesandtheoccasionallurkingrats，thejourneyinthetrain，thereembarkmentuponthepurple’busfromthegentleeminenceslopingtowardsthecoal—yard，thelongpilgrimagetowardsthecentraldistrictswithhisveryoutlyingcompanions。Herecalledthepeculiarnumbnessthatstroveagainstthedesperationofhisthoughts，hisfeebleeffortstolayplansfrustratedbyaperpetualbuzzinginhisbrain，hisflittingvisionsofthatgentlegrandmotherroundwhosevenerableageanddignityhewasabouttogroupsuchpeculiarpersonalities，andbeneathwhoseroofhewasabouttoindulgeinsuchunholypropheticpractices。Longafterwards——buteventhenhecouldnotsmileasmensooftensmilewhentheylookbackonlostdespairs！
Heandhiscompanionsspokebutlittletogetherastheyjourneyed。
OccasionallyMadameandMr。Sagittariusconversedinhuskywhispers，likebrigandstheProphetthought，andtheveiledclickofMadame’scontraltostruckthroughthestartledair。Butmostlyasilenceprevailed——asilencealivewithfate。
AtthecornerofAirStreettheygotoutandbegantowalkdownPiccadillytowardstheBerkeleysquare。Itwasnowevening。Thelampswerelightedandthemurmurofstrollingcrowdsfilledthegloomyair。
Madamestaredfeverishlyabouther，excitedbythepress，theflashinghansomsandthegaily—illuminatedshops。Once，asshepassedBenoist’s，shemurmured\"/Ofestumdies/！\"andagain，bytheBerkeley，whenshewasmomentarilyjostledbyaverylargeandumbrageoustrampwhohadapparentlybeencelebratingthejoysofbeggary——\"/Actoprofanusvulgam/！\"Butgenerallyshewassilent，enwrapped，nodoubt，inbookishthought。When，atlength，theystoodbeforethedoorofnumberonethousandshebreathedaheavysigh。
\"Please，\"saidtheProphet，inatremblingvoice，\"pleaseenterquietly。Mygrandmotherisveryunwell。\"
\"Anklesseemstobeaverypainfulcomplaint，sir，\"saidMr。
Sagittarius。\"ButMadameandselfarenotinthehabitofcreatinguproarbyourmovements。\"
\"No，no。Ofcoursenot。Still——ontiptoeifyoudon’tmind。\"
\"Icannotwalkontiptoe，\"saidMadame，inavoicethatsoundedtotheProphetterrificallypowerful。\"Theattitudeisprecariousandundignified。AsthegreatJuvenile——\"
\"Yes，yes。Ah！that’sit！\"
Hemanagedtogethiskeyintothedoorandverygingerlyopenedit。
MadameandMr。Sagittariussteppedintothehall，followedcloselybytheProphet，whowascontentonconveyingthemunobservedtothelibrary。
\"Thisway，\"hewhispered。\"Thisway。Softly！Softly！\"
Hebegantosteal，likeashadow，acrossthehall，and，impressedbyhissurreptitiousmanner，hisoldandvaluedfriendsinstinctivelyfollowedhisexample。Allthreeofthem，then，withlongstepsandtheatricalpauses，werestagilyuponthemove，whensuddenlythedoorthatledtotheservants’quartersswungopenandMrs。FancyQuingletdebouchedintotheirmidst，succeededbyMr。Ferdinand，whocarriedinhishandamenucardinasilverholder。AtthemomentoftheirappearancetheProphet，holdinghisfingertohislips，wastakingasoftandsecretstrideinthedirectionofthelibrarydoor，hisbodybentforwardandhisheadprotrudedtowardsthesanctumhelongedtogain，andMadameandMr。Sagittarius，truetotheinstinctofimitationthatdwellsinourmonkeyrace，wereinpreciselysimilarattitudesbehindhim。Thehallbeingratherdark，andthegaitofthetrioitcontainedthustragicallysurreptitious，itwasperhapsnotunnaturalthatMrs。Fancyshouldgiveventtoapiercingcryofterror，andthatMr。Ferdinandshoulddropthemenuandcrouchbackagainstthewallinahunchedpositionexpressiveofalarm。Atanyrate，suchweretheiractions，while——fortheirpart——theProphetandhistwooldandvaluedfriendsutteredaunitedexclamationandstruckthreeattitudesthatwerepregnantwithdefensiveamazement。
Havingutteredherself，Mrs。Fancy，accordingtoherinvariablecustomwhencompletelyterrified，displayedallthesemblanceofclear—sightedcomposureandexplanatorydiscrimination。WhileMr。Ferdinandremainedbythewall，withhisfacetoitandhislargewhitehandsspreadoutuponhisshuteyes，thelady’smaidadvanceduponMadame，and，addressingherselfapparentlytosomehiddenuniverseinneedofinformation，remarkedinratherapiecingvoice，——
\"Isayagain，asIsaidafore，thehousehasbeenbrokeintoandtherobbersareuponus。Ican’tspeakdifferentnormeanother。\"
OnhearingthesewordsMadame’slargeandripplingcountenancebecamesuffusedwithindignantscarlet，andapreliminaryclickrangthroughthehall。TheProphetboundedforward。
\"Hush，Fancy，\"hecried。\"Whatareyousaying？\"
\"WhatImean，MasterHennessey。Thehousehasbeenbroke——\"
\"Hush！Hush！Thisladyandgentlemanare——\"
\"Twooldandvaluedfriends——\"boomedMadame。
\"Twooldandvaluedfriendsofmine。Mr。Ferdinand！Mr。Ferdinand，takeyourfacefromthewall，ifyouplease。Thereisnocauseforalarm。
Now，Fancy——now！\"
ForMrs。Fancyhad，asusual，brokenintotearsonlearningthereassuringtruth，andwasnowdisplayingeverysymptomofdistressandenervation。TheProphet，unabletocalmher，wasobligedtoassistherupstairsandplaceheruponthelanding，wherehehurriedlyleftherutteringbrokenmoansandmurmurs，andrepeatingagainandagainherstatementofaffairsandassertionofinabilitytoconcealtherevealedobvious。OnhisreturnhefoundMadame，Mr。SagittariusandMr。
Ferdinandgroupedstatuesquelyinthehallasiftorepresent\"Perturbation。\"
\"Mr。Ferdinand，\"hesaidratherseverely，\"Ididnotexpectthisconductofyou，shrinkingfromguestsinthisextraordinarymanner。A
butlerwhoshowsterroratthesightofvisitorsdoesnotconducetothepopularityofhisemployers。\"
\"Ibegpardon，sir。Iwasnotprepared。\"
\"Pleasebepreparedanothertime。Youwillservedinnerforthreeto—night，veryquietly，intheinnerdining—room。IdonotwishMrs。
Merilliatobedisturbedinherillness，and——\"
\"Ifyouplease，sir，Mrs。Merilliafeelsherselfsomuchbetterthatsheiscomingdowntodinnerto—night。\"
\"Comingdowntodinner！\"saidtheProphet，aghast。
\"Yes，sir。AndshehasaskedinSirTiglathButtandtheLadyJuliaPostlethwaitetojoinher。IwasabouttoshowMrs。Merilliathemenu，sir，when——\"
\"GoodHeavens！MercifulPowers！\"ejaculatedtheProphet。
\"Sir？\"
\"Whatonearthistobedone？\"continuedtheProphet，lostforthemomenttoallsenseofpropriety。
Mr。Ferdinandlookedattheoldandvaluedfriends。
\"Ican’tsay，sir，I’msure，\"hereplied，pursinguphislips。
\"Whatisthemeaning——\"beganMr。Sagittarius。
\"I’mnotawarethat——\"startedMadame。
TheProphetdartedtothelibrarydoorandopenedit。
\"Pray，praycomeinhere，\"hehissed。\"Mygrandmother！Softly！\"
\"Buttheoldla——\"
\"Hush，please！\"
\"Imustremark，Mr。Viv——\"
\"Tsh！Tsh！Mr。Ferdinand，waitinthehall。Ishallwanttospeaktoyouinamoment。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
TheProphetclosedthedoorandturnedtothisindignantvisitors。
\"Thisisterrible，\"hesaid。\"Terrible！\"
\"Praywhy？\"criedMadame。
\"Why，\"criedtheProphet，\"why？\"
Hesoughtfranticallyforsomeexcuse。Suddenlyabrightideaoccurredtohim。
\"Why，\"hesaid，impressively。\"BecauseSirTiglathButt，thegentlemanwhoiscomingtodinner，isthepersonwhoforfive—and—fortyyearshasbeenseekingMr。Sagittariuswiththefirmintentionofassaulting，perhapsofkilling，him。\"
Mr。Sagittariusturneddeathlypale，andmadeamovementasiftogetoutofthenearestwindow。
\"Thisisatrap！\"hestammered。\"Thisisarat—trap。Thiswasplanned。\"
\"Really\"——begantheProphet。
ButMr。Sagittariusdidnotheedtheexclamation。Trembligveryviolently，hecontinued，——
\"Sophy，mydarling，youareindanger。Letusfly！\"
And，clutchinghiswifebythearm，totheProphet’sunspeakabledelightheendeavouredtolead，orrathertodraghertothedoor。ButMadamenowshowedthemetalshewasmadeof。
\"Jupiter，\"sheexclaimed，inherdeepestnote，\"ifyouareaProphetyoucansurelyatmomentsbealsoaman。Whereisyour/togavirilibus/？\"
\"Idon’tknow，mylove，I’msure。Don’tletusloseamoment。Come，myangel！\"
\"Ishallnotcome，\"retortedMadame，whoseleapingambitionhadbeenfiredbythesoundoftitlednames。\"ThegentlemanbelievesyoutobeanAmericansyndicate。\"
\"Iknow，myblessing，Iknow。But——\"
\"Verywell。Ifyoudon’tbehavelikeonehewillneversuspectyou。\"
TheProphetsawhischanceslippingfromhimandhastenedtointerpose。
\"Hemightdivinethetruth，\"hesaid。\"Onecannever——\"
ButatthismomenthewasinterruptedbyMr。Ferdinandwhoabruptlyopenedthedoorandobserved，——
\"Ifyouplease，sir，Mrs。Merilliahassentdownordersthatthepolicearetobefetchedatonce。\"
Mr。Sagittarius，nowthoroughlyunnerved，turnedfromwhitetogrey。
\"Thepolice！\"hevociferated。\"Sophy，myangel，letusfly。Thisisnoplaceforyou！\"
\"Thepolice！\"criedtheProphet。\"Why？\"
\"Ibelieveit’sMrs。Fancy’sdoing，sir。IfyouwouldgotoMrs。
Merillia，sir，Ithink——\"
TheProphetrushedfromtheroomandhastenedupstairsfourstepsatatime。Hefoundhisbelovedgrandmotherinastateofgraveagitation，andMrs。Fancy，infloodsoftears，reiteratingherstatementthattherewererobbersinthehouse。
\"Oh，Hennessey！\"criedMrs。Merillia，onhisentrance，\"thankGodthatyouarecome。Thereareburglarsinthehouse。Fancyhasjustencounteredtheminthehall。Goforthepolice，mydearestboy。Don’tloseamoment。\"
\"Mydeargrannie，they’renotburglars。\"
\"Ican’tspeakdifferent，MasterHennessey，nor——\"
\"Thenwhoarethey，Hennessey？Fancydeclares——\"
\"Theyaretwo——two——well，twooldandvaluedfriendsofmine。\"
\"Oldandvaluedfriendsofours！\"
\"Ofmine，grannie。Fancy，praydon’tmakesuchanoise！\"
\"Fancy，\"saidMrs。Merillia，\"youcangotoyourroomandliedown。\"
\"Yes，ma’am。Isayagain，asIsaidafore，thehousehasbeenbrokeintoandtherobbers——\"
AtthispointtheProphetshutthedooronthefaithfulandpersistentcreature，whoforthwithcarriedherdeterminationandsobstoanupperstorey。
\"Hennessey，whatisallthis？Whoisreallyhere？\"
\"Grannie，dear，onlytwofriendsofmine，\"repliedtheProphet，tryingtolookatease，andfeelinglikeacriminal。
\"Friendsofyours？ButsurelythenIknowthem。IthoughtIknewallyourfriends。\"
\"Soyoudo，grannie，allexcept——exceptjustthese。\"
\"Andtheyareoldandvalued，yousay？\"
\"No，no——thatis，Imeanyes。\"
Mrs。Merilliawastoodignifiedtoaskanyfurtherquestions。Shelaybackonhersofa，andlookedathergrandsonwithashiningofmildreproachinhergreeneyes。
\"Well，mydear，\"shesaid，\"gobacktoyourfriends，butdon’tforgetthatLadyJuliaandSirTiglatharedininghereathalf—pastseven。\"
\"Grannie，\"criedtheProphet，withadesperatefeelingthatMadamemeanttostay，\"yououghtnottodinedownstairsto—night。Letmesendandputthemoff。\"
\"No，Hennessey，\"sheanswered，withgentledecision。\"Ifeelbetter，andIwantcheeringup。Mymorningwasnotaltogetherpleasant。\"
TheProphetunderstoodthatshewasalludingtohisquestions，andfeltcuttotheheart。Hishomeseemedcrumblingabouthim，butheknewnotwhattodoorwhattosay。Mrs。Merilliaobservedhisagitation，butshedidnotchoosetoremarkuponit，forsheconsideredcuriositythemostvulgarofallthevices。
\"Gotoyourfriends，dear，\"shesaidagain。\"Butbeintimefordinner。\"
\"Yes，grannie。\"
TheProphetdescendedthestairsandmetMr。Ferdinandatthebottom。
\"AmItosendforthepolice，sir？\"
\"No，no。I’veexplainedmatters。\"
\"Andaboutdinner，sir？\"
\"I’lltellyouinamoment，Mr。Ferdinand，\"repliedtheProphet，enteringthelibrarywiththefixedintentionofgettingMadameandMr。
Sagittariusoutofthehousewithoutfurtherdelay。
Thetableauthatmethiseyes，however，wasnotreassuring。HefoundMadame，havinglaidasideherbonnet，andthrowntherabbit—skincloakcarelesslyuponasettee，arrangingherhairbeforeamirror，andshakingupthecoffee—colouredlacefichuinamannerthatsuggestedapermanentoccupationofthehouse，whileherhusband，sunkinadeeparmchairinanattitudeofcompletenervousprostration，wasgazingdejectedlyintothefire。WhentheProphetentered，thelatterboundedwithalarm，whileMadameturnedround，acoupleofhairpinsinhermouthandbothhandstothebackofherhead。
\"Ah，\"sheremarked，throughthepins，\"/ilavous/！IamhappytosaythatIhaveinducedMr。Sagittariustoassumehis/togavirilibus/，andthatwehave，therefore，greatpleasureinyieldingtoyourthoughtfulpressure——\"
\"Mywhat？\"saidtheProphet，blankly。
\"Youthoughtfulpressure，andacceptingyoururgentinvitetodineherebeforeproceedingtotheZoologicalGardensandthencetothebutler’spantry。\"
TheProphettriednottogroanwhilesheemittedapinandsecuredwithitawanderingplaitofravenhair。
\"You’resure，sir，\"saidMr。Sagittarius，inadeplorablevoice，\"thatthegentlemanisconvincedthatIamreallyanAmericansyndicate？\"
TheProphetrangthebell。Hecouldnottrusthimselftospeak，and，whenhelookedatMadame’slargeanddeterminedeyes，heknewthattodosowouldbeuseless。
Mr。Ferdinandappeared。
\"Mr。Ferdinand，\"saidtheProphet，\"thisladyandgentlemanwilljoinusatdinnerto—night。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidMr。Ferdinand，castingaglanceofoutragedpruderyuponMr。Sagittarius，whowasattiredinhisusualmorningcostume，includingspats。
\"What’sthematter，Mr。Ferdinand？\"askedtheProphet，followingthatfunctionary’seyes。\"Ha！He’snotdressed！\"
\"No，sir！\"
\"Mr。Sagittarius，\"criedtheProphet，\"you’renotdressed！\"
\"Sir，\"criedthatgentleman，\"doyoudaretoaccusemeofimproprietyinafrockcoat？\"
\"No，no。Butfordinner。Youcan’tpossiblydinelikethat！\"
\"Ihavedinedlikethis，sir，forthelasttwentyyears。Thearchitectsandtheirwives——\"
\"Idaresay。Butunluckilytherewillbenoarchitectsandtheirwivesatdinnerto—night。Pleasestandup。\"
\"Sir？\"
\"Kindlystandup。Mr。Ferdinand！\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Placeyourbackagainstthisgentleman’sifyouplease——touching，touching！Don’twriggleawaylikethat。KeepyourheelstothegroundwhileIfetchasheetofnotepaper。Don’tmoveyourheadseitherofyou。Ithoughtso。You’reprettymuchthesameheight。Mr。Ferdinand，youwilllayoutawhiteshirtandoneofyourblackdresssuitsinmydressing—roomatonce。Madame，Iregretthatwemustleaveyouforafewmoments。Willyouresthere？Allowmetoplaceacushionforyourhead。AndhereisJuvenalintheoriginal。\"
Sosaying，theProphethurriedMr。Sagittariusfromtheroom，drivingMr。Ferdinand，inaconditionofelephantinehorror，beforehim，andabandoningMadametoanacquaintancewiththeclassicsthatshehadcertainlyneverachievedinthesocietyoftherenownedDr。Carter。
CHAPTERXVII
MALKIELTHESECONDISMISTAKENFORARATCATCHER
\"Ifyoutremblelikethat，ofcourseitmustlooktoobig！\"exclaimedtheProphettoMr。Sagittarius，aquarterofanhourlater。\"Drawitinattheback。\"
Mr。Sagittarius，withshakinghands，drewinthewaistcoatofMr。
Ferdinand，whichhunginfoldsaroundhisthinandagitatedfigure。
\"That’sbetter，\"saidtheProphet。\"Theywon’tnoticeanythingodd。Butyou’veturnedupyour——Mr。Ferdinand’strousers！\"
\"They’retoolong，sir。Youbracedthemtoolowfor——\"
\"Ibracedthemlowonpurpose，\"criedtheProphetingreatexcitement，\"tocoverthespats，sinceyoucan’tgetonMr。Ferdinand’sboots。
Kindlyturnthemdown。\"
\"Astothespats，sir，thearchitectsandtheirwives——\"
\"Mr。Sagittarius，\"exclaimedtheProphet，\"Ithinkitrighttoinformyouthatifyoumentionthearchitectsandtheirwivesagain，Imayveryprobablygomad。Idon’tsayIshall，butIwillnotanswerformyself。Havethegoodnesstoturnthemdownandfollowme。\"
Mr。Sagittariusobeyed，andfollowedtheProphetfromtheroomwithawaddlinggaitandaterriblesensationofhavingnothingon。ThecoatandtrouserswhichheworeflappedabouthimashedescendedthestairsinthewakeoftheProphet，glancingnervouslyabouthimandstartingattheslightestsound。InthelibrarytheyfoundMadame，holdingthegreatJuvenileupsidedownandlookingexceedinglycross。
\"Willyoubegoodenoughtocomeupstairs？\"saidtheProphettoherverypolitely，thoughhisfingerstwitchedtostrangleher。\"Iwishtopresentyoutomygrandmother，anddinnerisjustready。\"
Madamerosewithdignity。
\"Iamreadytoo，\"shesaid，withaclick。\"/Semperparatis/。\"
And，shakingupthefichu，sheascendedthestairs。Outsidethedrawing—roomdoortheProphet，whoseemedstrangelycalm，butwhowasinrealityalmostburstingwithnervousexcitement，pausedandfacedhisoldandvaluedfriends。
\"Youwillforgivemysayingso，Ihope，\"hewhispered，\"butmygrandmotherisnotwellandmuchconversationtiresher。Sowedon’ttalktoomuchinherpresence。Onlyjustnowandthen，youunderstand。\"
Andwiththislastinjunction——futile，heknewashegaveit——hecommendedhimselftowhateverpowerstherebeandopenedthedoor。
SirTiglathhadnotyetarrived，butLadyJuliaPostlethwaitewasseatedonasofabyMrs。Merillia，andwasconversingwithherabouttheCourt，thedreadfulamountofmoneyacertainduke——herthirdcousin——hadrecentlyhadtopayinDeathDuties，thecorruptconditionofsociety，andtheabsurdpretensionsofthelowermiddleclasses。
LadyJuliawassensitiveandavery/grandedame/。Sheworeherhairpowdered，andhadaslightcoughandexquisitemanners。Oncealadyinwaiting，shewasnowawidow，possessedasetofapartmentsinHamptonCourtPalace，worshippedQueenAlexandra，andhadscarcelyeverspokentoanybodywhomovedoutsideofCourtCircles。TheDukeofWellingtonwassaidtohaveembracedherwhenachild。