\"AndyouroriginaladviserwasMr。Sagittarius，washe？\"
Onhearingawordsheunderstood，Mrs。Bridgemanbrightenedup，and，perceivingthelittleclergyman，sheanswered，——
\"Mr。Sagittarius——ah，yes！SirTiglathisspeakingofyou，Mr。
Sagittarius。\"
Thelittleclergymanturnedalmostblackintheface。
\"Biggle！\"heexclaimed，inavoiceofthunder。\"Biggle！Biggle！\"
And，withoutfurtherparley，herushedtothecloak—room，seizedsomeoneelse’shatandcoat，andfaredforthintothenight。LadyEnid，whohadmeanttocoachMrs。BridgemanverycarefullyforthemeetingwithSirTiglath，butwhoseplanswerecompletelyupsetbytheastronomer’sprematureadvent，nowendeavouredtointerpose。
\"Bytheway，\"shesaid，inaverycalmvoice，whereisdearMr。
Sagittarius？Ihaven’tseenhimyet。\"
\"I’mafraidhe’sangrywithme，\"saidMrs。Bridgeman，alludingtothelittleclergyman。\"Ireallycan’tthinkwhy。\"
\"SirTiglath，\"saidLadyEnid，boldlytakingtheastronomer’sarm。
\"Comewithme。IwantyoutofindMr。Sagittariusforme。Yes，theydomakeratheranoise！\"
Thiswasinallusiontotheguitars，fortheastronomerhadnowplacedbothhandsoverhisearsinthevainendeavourtoexclude\"TheGipsies。\"Deafness，perhaps，renderedhimyielding。Inanycase，hepermittedLadyEnidtodetachhimfromMrs。BridgemanandtoleadhimthroughtheroomsinsearchofMr。Sagittarius。
\"Perhapshe’shere，\"saidLadyEnid，enteringadarkenedchamber。\"Oh，no！\"
Andshehastilymovedaway，perceivingalargenumberofdevotedadherentsoftable—tappingbusilyengaged，withoutspreadfingersandsolemnfaces，attheirintellectualpursuit。Avoidingthearchdeacon，whowasnowhavinghisnosereadbytheprofessor，sheconductedtheastronomer，renderedstrangelymeekbytheguitars，intoadrawing—roomnearthehall，inwhichonlyfourpeopleremained——VeranoandMrs。
ElizaDoubleway，whowereconferringinonecorner，andMr。andMadameSagittarius，whowereapparentlyhavingrathermorethanafewwordstogetherinanother。
\"Ah！there’sMr。Sagittarius！\"saidLadyEnid。
\"Minnie！\"criedMrs。Eliza，beckoningtoLadyEnid。\"Minnie，ducky！\"
LadyEnidpretendednottohearandtriedtohastenwiththeastronomertowardstheSagittariuses。ButMrs。Elizawasnottobeputoff。
\"Minnie，mypet！\"shepiped。\"Comehere，Minnie！\"
LadyEnidwasobligedtopause。
\"Whatisit，dearEliza？\"sheasked，atthesametimemakingafaceatthesoothsayertoindicatecaution。
Mrs。ElizaandVeranoroseandapproachedLadyEnidandtheastronomer。
\"IwaslayingthecardslastnightatJaneSeaman’s——youknow，dear，theAngelGabrielwholivesontheHackneyDowns——andwhateverdoyouthink？ThehaceofspadescameupthreetimesinconjugationwiththeKnaveof’earts！\"
\"Terrific！Verygreat！\"buzzedVerano，withastrongSouthAmericanIrishbrogue——arealbrothofabrogue。
\"Wonderful！\"saidLadyEnid，hastily，endeavouringtopasson。
\"Waitaminute，darling。Well，IsaystoJane——Iwaslayingthecardsforher’usband，dear——IsaystoJane，Isays，withoutdoubtHisaacisabouttopassover，Isays，seeingtheredboy’scomeupinconjugationwiththehace。’Lord！Mrs。Eliza！Laythemoutagain，’shesays，’for，’
shesays，’ifHikeisgoingtopassover，’shesays——\"
\"Extraordinary，dearMrs。Eliza！You’reagenius！\"criedLadyEnidindespair。
\"Tremendous！Verybig！\"buzzedVerano，staringatSirTiglath。\"Yougotaveryspatulatehandthere，sir！Allowme！\"
AndtoLadyEnid’shorrorheseizedtheastronomer’shandwithbothhisown。
\"Howdareyoutamperwiththeoldastronomer，sir？\"roaredSirTiglath。
\"AmIinamadhouse？WhoareallthesecrazyJanes！Dropmyhand，sir！\"
Veranoobeyedratherhastily，andLadyEnidconvoyedthesplutteringastronomertowardsthecornerwhichcontainedMr。andMadameSagittarius。
Nowtheseworthieswereinamentalconditionofamostcomplicatedkind。ThereceptionatZoologicalHousehadupsetinanhourthetheoriesandbeliefsofalifetime。HithertoMadamehadalwaysbeenfilledwithshameatthethoughtthatshewasnotthewifeofanarchitectbutofaprophet，andMr。Sagittariushadendeavouredtoassumethemeinandcostumeofanoutsidebroker，andhaddreameddreamsofretiringeventuallyfromahatedanddespisedprofession。Butnowtheyfoundthemselvesinamagnificentmansioninwhichthesecond—
ratemembersoftheirowntribewereworshippedandadored，smotheredwithattentions，pliedwithPommeryandlookeduponasgods，whilethey，intheirincognito，wereneglected，andpaidnomoreheedtothaniftheyhadbeen，inreality，merearchitectsandoutsidebrokers，totallyunconnectedwiththatmysteriousoccultworldwhichisthefashionofthemoment。
Thispositionofaffairshad，notunnaturally，thrownthenintoaconditionofthegravestexcitement。Madame，moreespecially，hadreachedboilingpoint。Feelingherself，forthefirsttime，anImperialcreatureinexile，whohadonlytodeclareherselftoreceiveinstanthomageandtobeoverwhelmedwiththemostflatteringattentions，herlustofglorydevelopedwithalarmingrapidity，andsheurgedherhusbandtocastthetraditionsthathadhithertoguidedhimtothewindsandtodeclareforthwithhisidentitywithMalkieltheSecond，thebusiness—likeandasitwereofficialheadofthewholeprophetictribe。
Mr。Sagittarius，forhispart，wasalsofiredwiththelongingforinstantglory，buthewasbynatureanextremelytimid——orshallwesayrather，anextremelyprudent——man。HerememberedtherepeatedinjunctionsofhisgreatforebearwhohadlivedanddiedintheSusanRoadbesidethegasworks。More，herememberedSirTiglathButt。Hewastornbetweenambitionandterror。
\"Declareyourself，Jupiter！\"criedMadame。\"Declareyourselfthismoment！\"
\"Mylove！\"repliedMr。Sagittarius。\"Myangel，wemustreflect。\"
\"Ihavereflected，\"retortedMadame。
\"Therearedifficulties，mydear，manydifficultiesintheway。\"
\"Andwhatifthereare？/Peraugustumadaugustibus/。Everyfoolknowsthat。\"
\"Mydear，youarealittleharduponme。\"
\"Andwhathaveyoubeenuponme，Ishouldliketoknow？Whataboutthosegoings—onwiththewomanBridgeman？WhataboutyourinvestigationswiththathussyMinerva？You’vebeenherowl，that’swhatyou’vebeen！\"
Shebegantoshowgravesymptomsofhysteria。Mr。Sagittariuspattedherhandsingreatanxiety。
\"Mylove，Ihavetoldyou，Ihavesworn——\"
\"Andwhatmandoesn’tswearwheneverhegetsthechance？\"criedMadame。
\"WhydidIevermarry？/Heumiserumme/。\"
\"Myangel，becalm。Iassureyou——\"
\"Verywellthen，declareyourself，Jupiter，thisminute，orI’lldeclareyourselfforyou！\"
\"But，mylove，thinkofSirTiglath！Idarenotdeclaremyself。Hewillbehereatanymoment，andhehassworntokillme，ifI’mnotanAmericansyndicate！\"
\"Rubbish！\"
\"But，my——\"
\"Rubbish！That’sonlywhatMr。Viviansays。\"
\"Well，but——\"
\"Besides，youcanputonyour/togavirilibus/andknockhimdown。It’snousetalkingtome，Jupiter。\"
\"Iknowitisn’t，mydarling，Iknow。But——\"
\"Ifyoudon’tdeclareyourselfIshalldeclareyourselfforyouthisverymoment。Iwillnotenduretobeleftinthecornerwhileallthesenobodiesarebeingtruckledto。BernardWilkins，indeed！Aprophetwewouldn’tsomuchasrecognisetobeaprophet，andthatthereMrs。
Eliza——peoplefromtheWickgoingdowntosupperinfrontofus，andamanfromtheButtsputbeforeyou！It’srightdowndisgusting，andI
won’thaveit。\"
ItwasexactlyatthispointinthematrimonialconferencethatLadyEnidandSirTiglathButt，shakingthemselvesfreeofMrs。ElizaandVerano，boredownuponMr。andMadameSagittarius，whoweresobusilyengagedindisputationthattheydidnotperceivethatanyonewasnearuntilLadyEnidtouchedMr。Sagittariusuponthearm。
Thatgentlemanstartedviolentlyand，onperceivingSirTiglathButt，whowaspositivelysputteringwithwrathatthepalmisticattentionspaidtohimbyVerano，shrankagainsthiswife，whopushedhimvigorouslyfromher，and，gettinguponherfeet，announcedinaloudvoice，——
\"Verywell，Jupiter，sinceyouwon’tdeclareyourselfIshallgoatoncetothewomanBridgemananddeclareyourselfforyou！\"
AndwiththisremarkshescowledatLadyEnidandwalkedmajesticallyaway，tossingherheadvehementlyatMrs。ElizaandVeranoasshesweptintotheadjoiningdrawing—room。
\"Dearme，\"saidLadyEnid，withgreatcuriosity。\"Dearme，Mr。
Sagittarius，isyourwifegoingtomakeadeclaration？Thisismostinteresting！\"
And，movedbyherbesettingidiosyncrasy，sheaddedtotheastronomer，\"Excuseme，SirTiglath，\"I’llbebackinonemoment！\"andglidedswiftlyawayinthewakeofMadame，leavingMr。Sagittariusandhisdeadliestfoe/tete—a—tete/。
\"Isthisamadhouse，sir？\"criedSirTiglath，onbeingthusabandoned。
\"Theoldastronomerdemandstoknowatonceifoneis，orisnot，inavastmadhouse？\"
\"Idon’tknow，sir，indeed，\"repliedMr。Sagittarius。\"Ishouldnotliketoexpressanopiniononthepoint。Ifyouwillexcu——\"
\"Sir，theoldastronomerwillnotexcuseyou，\"roaredSirTiglath，forciblypreventingMr。Sagittarius，whowaspaleasashes，fromescapingintothefartherroom。\"Hewillnotberunawayfrombyeverybodyinthismanner。\"
\"Ibegpardon，sir，Ihadnointentionofrunningaway，\"saidMr。
Sagittarius，makingonelastdespairingefforttoassumehis/togavirilibus/。
\"Thenwhydidyoudoit，sir？Telltheoldastronomerthat！\"criedSirTiglath，seizinghimbythearm。\"Andtellhim，moreover，whatyouandtheoldfemaleBridgemanhavebeenabouttogether？\"
\"Nothing，sir；IswearthatMrs。Bridgemanandmyselfhavenever——\"
\"Nevermadeinvestigationsintothepossibilityoftherebeingoxygeninmanyoftheholystars？Doyouaffirmthat，sir？\"
\"Ido！\"criedMr。Sagittarius。\"Iamanoutsidebroker。\"
\"Doyouaffirmthatyouarenoastronomer，sir？Doyoudeclarethatyouarenotamanofscience？\"
\"Ido！Ido！\"
\"Notanastronomerofremarkableattainments，butverymodestandretiringwithal？Oh—h—h！\"
\"Modestandretiring，sir？\"criedMr。Sagittarius，suddenlyilluminedbyarayofhope。\"That’sjustit！Iamamodestandretiringoutsidebroker，sir。\"
Andheviolentlyendeavouredtoprovethetruthofthewordsbyescapingforthwithintoobscurity。
\"Thereneverwasamodestandretiringoutsidebroker！\"bellowedSirTiglath。\"Thereneverwas，andthereneverwillbe。Theold——\"
\"What’sthat？\"interruptedMr。Sagittarius。\"Whatever’sthat？\"
Foratthismomentanextraordinaryhumofvoicesmadeitselfaudibleabovethefiftyguitars，andanoiseofmanyfeettramplingeagerlyuponMrs。Bridgeman’sparquetgrewlouderandlouderinthebrilliantrooms。Attractedbytheuproar，SirTiglathpausedforamoment，stillkeepinghishanduponthelapelofMr。Ferdinand’scoat，however。Thenoiseincreased。Itwasevidentthatamultitudeofpeoplewasrapidlyapproaching。Wordsutteredbythemovingguests，exclamations，andejaculationsofexcitementnowdetachedthemselvesfromthegeneralmurmur。
\"TheProphetfromtheMouse！\"
\"ThegreatMalkielhere！\"
\"Thefounderofthealmanac！\"
\"ThegreatestProphetoftheage！\"
\"MalkieltheSecondfromtheMouse！\"
\"WhereisMalkiel？\"
\"WemustfindMalkiel！\"
\"WemustseeMalkiel！\"
\"IsitreallyMalkiel？\"
\"Oh，isit/the/Malkiel？Where——whereisMalkiel？\"
SuchcriesasthesebrokeupontheearsoftheastronomerandMr。
Sagittarius。
SirTiglathgrewpurple。
\"Malkielwhohasinsultedtheholystarshere！\"heroared，lettinggoofMr。Sagittarius。\"Where——whereishe？\"
\"Inthere，sir，Iverilybelieve！\"criedMr。Sagittarius，pointinginthedirectionofthecrowdwithahandthatshooklikealltheleavesinVallombrosa。
\"Letmefindhim！\"shoutedtheastronomer。\"Letmeonlydiscoverhim！
I’llbreakeveryboneinhisaccursedbody。\"
Andwiththisratherbaldstatementherolledoutoftheroominonedirection，whileMr。Sagittarius，withoutmoreado，castasidehis/togavirilibus/anddartedoutofitintoanother，justasMadameescortedbyMrs。Bridgeman，LadyEnid，thegreatTowleandthewholeofthecompanyassembledatZoologicalHouse，appearedmajestically——andproceedingasanEmpress——intheapertureofthemaindoorway。
CHAPTERXIX
MRS。MERILLIAHEATSTHEPOKER
WhenMr。Sagittarius，runningathisfullestspeed，emergedfromZoologicalHouse，wearingthehatandcoatthatthesaturninelittleclergymanhadleftbehindhim，thenightwasdampandgusty。Ashehasteneddownthedrive，andthesoundoftwentyguitars，playing\"OhwouldIwereaSpaniardamongyoulemongroves！\"diedawayinthelightedmansionbehindhim，heheardtheroaringofthebeastsinthegardenscloseby。Inthewetdarknessitsoundedpeculiarlyterrific。
Heshuddered，and，holdingupMr。Ferdinand’strouserswithbothhands，hurriedonwardthroughthemire，whitherheknewnot。Hisonlythoughtwasthatallwasnowdiscoveredandthathislifewasindanger。A
woman’svanityhadwreckedhisfuture。Hemusthidesomewhereforthenight，andgetawayinthemorning，perhapsonboardsometrampsteamerboundforBuenosAyres，oronajunkweighinganchorforHaytiorJava，orsomeotherdistantplace。VaguememoriesofbookshehadreadwhenaboycamebacktohimasheranthroughtheunkemptwildsoftheRegent’sPark。Hesawhimselfastowawayhiddeninahold，alonewithratsandships’biscuits。Hesawhimselfworkinghiswayoutbeforethemast，sentaloftinhurricanesonpitch—blacknights，orturningthewheelthewrongwayroundandbringingtheshiptowreckuponiron—
boundcoastsswarmingwithsharksandsavages。Thelionsroaredagain，andtheblackpantherssnarledbehindtheirprisonbars。HethoughtofthepeacefulwatersoftheriverMouse，ofthelibraryofMadame，ofthehappylittlecircleofarchitectsandtheirwives，ofallthathemustleave。
Whatwonderifhedroppedatearintothemuddyroad？WhatwonderifasobrentthebosomofMr。Ferdinand’snowdisorderedshirtfront？OnandonMr。Sagittarius——orMalkieltheSecond，ashemayfromhenceforthbecalled——wentblindly，onandontilltheParkwasleftbehind，tillcrescentsgavewaytosquares，andsquarestostreets。Hepassedanoccasionalpolicemanandslunkawayfromthepenetratingbull’s—eye。Heheardnowandthenthefar—offrattleofacab，theshrillcryofawhistle，thehowlofabutlersummoningavehicle，thecooofacookbiddinggood—nighttotheyoungtradesmanwhomshelovedbeforetheareagate。AndallthesefamiliarLondonsoundsstruckstrangelyonhisear。Whenwouldhehearthemagain？Perhapsnever。Hestumbledonblindedwithemotion。
Dogs，weknowareguidedbyastrangeinstincttofindtheirhomesevenbyunfamiliarpaths。Pigeonswillflyacrosswidespacesanddropdowntothewickercagethatawaitsthem。Anditwouldappearthatprophetsarenotwithoutacertainfacultythatmaybecalledtopographical。Forhowelsecanthefollowingfactbeexplained？MalkieltheSecond，afterapparentlyendlesswandering，foundhimselftotallyunabletoproceedfurther。Hislegsgavewaybeneathhim。Hisbreathfailed。Hisbrainswam。Hereeled，stretchedforthhishandsandclutchedatthenearestsupport。Thischancedtobearailing，wet，slimy，cold。Hegraspedit，leanedagainstit，andforafewmomentsremainedwherehewasinasortoftrance。Then，gradually，fullconsciousnessreturned。Heglancedupandbeheldtheblackgardenofasquare。Somehowitlookedfamiliar。Heseemedtoknowthoseshadowy，leaflesstrees，theroadwaybetweenhimandthem，eventhepavementuponwhichhisboots——hisownboots——wereset。Hislack—lustreeyestravelledtothehousesthatborderedthesquare，thentothehouseagainstwhosearearailingshewasleaning，andhestartedwithamazement。ForhewasinBerkeleySquare，leaningagainsttherailingofnumberonethousand。Hegazedupatthewindows。Oneortwofaintlightstwinkled。Thenperhapsthehouseholdhadnotyetretiredforthenight。Anideaseizedhim。Hemustrest。Hemustsnatchabriefintervalofrepose，beforestartingforthedocksatdawntofindashipinwhoseholdhecouldseekseclusion，tillthegreatseasroaredroundher，andhecoulddeclarehimselftothecaptainandcrewwithoutfearofbeingputashore。Whynotresthereinnumberonethousand？True，theProphetwouldpresentlybereturningpossiblywithMadame，buthewouldbribeMr。Ferdinandnottomentionhiswhereabouts。Itwasnodoubtaveryrashproceeding，buthewasutterlyexhausted，hefeltthathecouldgonofurther，hefoundhimselfbeforeanalmostfriendlydoor。Whatwonderthenifhetotteredupthestepsandtappedfeeblyuponit？Therewasnoanswer。Hetappedagainmoreloudly。Thistimehissummonswasheard。Stepsapproached。
Therewasamoment’spause。Thenthedooropened，andGustavusappearedlookingrathersleepy，butstilldecidedlyintellectual。MalkieltheSecondpulledhimselftogetherandfacedthefootmanboldly。
\"Youknowme？\"hesaid。
Gustavusexaminedhimclosely。
\"Yes，sir，\"herepliedatlength。\"Bytheclothes。IshouldknowMr。
Ferdinand’strouseringsamongathousand。\"
MalkieltheSecondrealisedthatemotionprobablyrenderedhisfaceunrecognisable。Butatleasthislegsspokeforhim。Thatwassomething，andhecontinued，withanattemptateaseandboldness，——
\"Right！Ihavereturnedtochangethem。\"
\"Yes，sir。Mr。Ferdinandhasretiredtobed，sir。\"
\"Don’twakehim。Icanjustleavethemforhim。\"
\"Verywell，sir。\"
AndGustavusadmittedMalkieltothedimly—lithallandshutthedoorsoftly。
\"Whatisyourname，youngman？\"saidMalkiel，whispering。
\"Gustavus，sir。\"
\"Ah！Gustavus，wouldyouliketoearnahundredpoundsto—night？\"
Gustavusstarted。
\"Idon’tsayashowI’drathernot，sir，\"hereplied。\"Idon’tgosofarastosaythat。\"
\"Right！DoasItellyouandyouwillearnahundredpounds。\"
Thefootman’seyesbegantoglow，almostlikeacat’sinthetwilight。
\"Why，Icouldbuythelibraryneartwelvetimesover，\"hemurmured。
\"Thelibrary？\"saidMalkiel，whosebrainhadsuddenlybecomestrangelyclear。
\"Ah，sir——Dr。Carter’s，\"returnedGustavus，beginningtotremble。
\"Dr。Carter’s！\"whisperedMalkiel，excitedly。\"Ishouldthinkso。Eightguineasandahalf，andyoupayininstalments。\"
\"I’lldoit，sir，\"hissedGustavus，utterlycarriedawaybytheprospect。\"Whatd’youwantmetodo？\"
\"Firsttoletmechangemyclothesquickly，thentohidemesomewheresoasIcangetasleeptilldawn。CallmedirectlyitbeginstogetlightandIshallbeofftothedocks。\"
\"Thedocks，sir？\"
\"Ay。Istartfor——forJavato—morrow。\"
\"Java，sir——what，wherethesparrowsandthejelly——\"
\"Ay，ay，\"returnedMalkiel，secretlyrehearsinghisnewnauticalrole。
\"I’lldoitsir。Andthehundred？\"
\"I’llwriteyouanorderonmybanker’s。Youcantrustme。Nowletmechangemyclothes。Quick！\"
\"They’reinMr。Vivian’sbedroom，ain’tthey？\"
Malkielnodded。
\"Youmustgoverysoft，sir，becauseoftheoldlady。She’sabed，butshemightbewakeful，speciallyto—night。She’sbeenawfulupset。Myword，shehas！\"
\"I’llgoassoftasamouse，\"whisperedMalkiel。\"Showmetheway。\"
Gustavusadvancedontiptoetowardsthestaircase，followedbyMalkiel，whoheldMr。Ferdinand’sclothestogetherlesttheyshouldrustle，andproceededwiththemostinfiniteprecaution。InthismannertheygainedthesecondfloorandnearedthebedroomdoorofMrs。Merillia。HereGustavusturnedround，pointedtothedoor，andputhisfingertohispoutinglips，atthesametimeroundinghishazeleyesandshakinghispowderedheadinamostwarningmanner。Malkielnodded，heldMr。
Ferdinand’sclothestighter，andstoleon，ashethought，withoutmakingasound。Whatwashishorror，then，justashewaspassingMrs。
Merillia’sdoor，tohearavoicecry，——
\"Hennessey！Hennessey！\"
GustavusandMalkielstoppeddead，asiftheyhadbothbeenshot。Theynowperceivedthatthedoorwaspartiallyopen，andthatafaintlightshonewithintheroom。
\"Hennessey！\"criedthevoiceofMrs。Merilliaagain。\"Comeinhere。I
mustspeaktoyou。\"
GustavusdartedonintothedarknessoftheProphet’sroom，butMalkieltheSecondwassoalarmedthathestayedwherehewas，findinghimselftotallyincapableofmovement。
\"Hennessey！\"repeatedthevoice。
Thentherewasafaintrustling，thedoorwasopenedmorewidely，andMrs。Merilliaappearedintheaperture，cladinamostcharmingnightbonnet，androbedinadressing—gownofwhitewateredsilk。
\"Theratcatcher！\"shecried。\"Theratcatcher！\"
Malkielturnedanddarteddownthestairs，whileMrs。Merillia，intheextremeofterror，shutherdoor，lockeditasmanytimesasshecould，andthenhastenedtremblingtothebellwhichcommunicatedwiththefaithfulMrs。Fancy，rangit，anddroppedhalffaintingintoachair。
Mrs。FancywokefromherseconddreamjustasMalkiel，closelyfollowedbythenowshatteredGustavus，reachedthehall。
\"Hideme！Hideme！\"whisperedMalkiel。\"Inhere！\"
Andhedartedintotheservants’quarters，leavingGustavusonthemat。
Mrs。Merillia’sotherbellnowpealedshrillydownstairs。Gustavuspausedandpulledhimselftogether。Hewasbynatureafairlyintrepidyouth，andmoreover，hehadrecentlymadeaclosestudyofCarlyle’s/HeroesandHero—worship/，whichgreatlyimpressedhim。Hethereforeresolvedinthismomentofperiltoacquithimselfinsimilarcircumstances，andheremountedthestairsandreachedMrs。Merillia’sdoorjustasMrs。Fancy，wrappedinawoollenshawlandwearingapairofknittednight—socks，descendedtothelanding，candleinhand。
\"Oh，Mr。Gustavus！\"saidMrs。Fancy。\"Isittherobbersagain？Isitmurder，Mr。Gustavus？Isitfire？\"
\"Idon’tknow，Mrs。Fancy，I’llaskthemistress。\"
Hetappeduponthedoor。
\"Youcan’tcomein！\"criedpoorMrs。Merillia，whowaslosingherheadperhapsforthefirsttimeinherlife。\"Youcan’tcomein，andifyoudoIshallgiveyouinchargetothepolice。\"
Andsherangbothherbellsagain。
\"Ma’am！\"saidGustavus，knockingoncemore。\"Ma’am！\"
\"It’snouseyourknocking，\"returnedMrs。Merillia。\"Thedoorisbolted。Goaway，goaway！\"
Andagainsheranghertwobells。
\"Madam！\"pipedMrs。Fancy。\"Madam！It’sme！\"
\"Iknow，\"saidMrs。Merillia。\"Iknowit’syou！Isawyou！Leavethehouseunlessyouwishtobeatonceputinprison。
Herbellspealed。Mrs。Fancybegantosob。
\"Metoleavethehouse！\"shewailed。\"Metogotoprison！\"
\"Bearup，Mrs。Fancy，shedoesn’tknowwhoitis！\"saidGustavus。
\"Ma’am！Ma’am！Missis！Missis！\"