"Ireallybegyourpardon，"saidtheProphet，whileMr。Sagittariusstoodstillintheviolentattitudeofonedeterminedtododgesolongashehasbreath。"Iamnotatallinthehabitof"——Mr。Sagittariusdodged——"ofintrudinguponstrangers——"Mr。SagittariusdodgedagainwithsuchextraordinaryabruptnessanddeterminationthathenearlycausedtheyounglibrariantoswallowtheProphet’sgoldenbribe。"I
seeyoudon’tbelieveme，"theProphetcontinued，flushingpinkbutstillholdinghisground，andindeedtryingtoturnMr。Sagittarius’sflankbyastrategicmovementofalmostmilitaryprecision。"Iseethatplainly，but——"Mr。Sagittariusduckedtotheleft，endeavouringtocoverthemanoeuvrebyanalmostsimultaneousandextremelypassionatefeinttowardstheProphet’scentre，whichwasimmediatelywithdrawningoodorder——"butyourremark——arkablename，Saag——itt—ittarius，suggestedtomethatyouarerea—eallythemanIseek。"
HehadnowgotMr。SagittariusintoaveryawkwardbitofcountrybetweentheletterP。intherack，underwhichreposedMissPartridge’scorrespondence，andthenewspaperbureau，withthecounterimmediatelyonhisrear，andtakingadvantageofthiscircumstance，hecontinuedrapidly：
"MayIaskwhetheryourecentlyreceivedaletter——onemoment！——
envelope——crest——Ionlywanttoknowifyouhavereceived——only——anelephantrampant——swarmof——ofbees——"
"Ihaveneverreceivedarampantelephantandaswarmofbees，"criedMr。Sagittariuswitheverysymptomofunbridledterror。"Help，FrederickSmith！"
"Rightyouare，MalkieltheSecond！"criedtheyounglibrarian，hastilypocketingthehalfsovereignandmakingafeverishlungeatnothinginparticularoverthecounter。"Rightyouare！"
"MalkieltheSecond！"ejaculatedtheProphet。"ThenyouarethemanI
seek。"
MalkieltheSecond——foritwasindeedhe——sankbackagainstthecounterinanattitudeofabandonedprostrationthatwouldhavemadeafortuneofacomicactor。
"ItrustedtoJellybrand’s，"hesaid，drawingfromhistailpocketawhitehandkerchiefcoveredwithapatternofpinkstorksinflight。"I
trustedtoJellybrand’sandJellybrand’shasbetrayedme。Oh，FrederickSmith！"
Heputastorktoeacheye。Theyounglibrarianassumedaninjuredair。
"Itwastheagitationdidit，Mr。Sagittarius，"hesaid。"Ifyouhadn’ta—kep’dodgingIshouldn’thavelostmymemory。"
AndhelookedavariciouslyattheProphet，whosmiledathimreassuringlyanddrewforthacardcase。
"Ifeelsure，Mr。Sag——Malkiel——"
"MalkieltheSecond，sir，ismynameifitisbetrayedbyJellybrand’s，"saidthatgentlemanwithsuddendignity。"Thereisnoneedofanymister。"
"Ibegyourpardon，"saidtheProphet，handinghiscard。"Thatismynameandaddress。MayIbegyoutoforgivemyapparentanxietytomakeyouracquaintance，andimploreyoutograntmeafewmomentsofprivateconversationonamatteroftheutmostimportance？"
MalkieltheSecondreadthecard。
"BerkeleySquare，"hesaid。"/The/BerkeleySquare？"
"Exactly，theBerkeleySquare，"saidtheProphet，modestly。
"NottheoneatBrixtonRisebehindtheKimmins’smews？"saidMalkieltheSecond，suspiciously。
"Certainlynot。TheonenearGrosvenorSquare。"
"That’sbetter，"saidMalkiel，uponwhomtheProphet’saddresshadevidentlymadeagoodimpression。"Kimmins’sisnoclassatall。Hadyoucomefromthere，I——butwhatmayyouwantwithme？"
TheProphetglancedsignificantlyattheyounglibrarian，whowasleaninguponthecounterinatense，keyholeposition，withhisprivateearturnedsomewhatostentatiouslytowardsthetwospeakers。
"Icantellyouinaninnerroom，"hemurmured，inhismostingratiatingmanner。
"You’recertainit’snotBerkeleySquarebehindKimmins’s？"saidMalkiel，withalastflickerofsuspicion。
"Quitecertain——quite。"
"FrederickSmith，"saidMalkieltheSecond，"sinceJellybrand’shasbetrayedmeJellybrand’smustabidetheconsequences。Showthisgentlemanandmetotheparlour。"
"Right，Mr。Sagittarius，"repliedtheyounglibrarianwhosememoryhadagainbecomeexcellent。"ButMissMinervaiscomingatthree—thirty。"
"Hasshebespoketheparlour，FrederickSmith？"
"Yes，Mr。Sagittarius。"
"Thenshecan’thaveit。That’sall。Jellybrand’smustabidethefullconsequencesofmybetrayal。Goforward，FrederickSmith。"
Theyounglibrarianwentforwardtowardsadoorofdealandgroundglasswhichhethrewopenwithsomeceremony。
"Theparlour，gents，"hesaid。
"Afteryou，sir，afteryou，"saidMalkieltheSecond，makingasidestepandbringinghisfeettogetherinthefirstposition。
"No，no，"rejoinedtheProphet，gentlydrawingthesagetothefront，andinsertinghimintotheparlourinsuchaningeniousmannerthathedidnotperceivethejourneyofasecondhalfsovereignfromthepersonoftheProphettothatoftheyounglibrarian，whothereafterclosedthedealandgroundglassdoor，andreturnedtothecounter，whistlinginanabsent—mindedmanner，"I’maHappyMillionairefromColorado。"
CHAPTERIII
THETWOPROPHETSPARTAKEOF"CREAMINGFOAM。"
"Andnow，sir，"saidMalkieltheSecond，pointingtoacoupleofcanechairswhich，withthetable，endeavoured，ratherunsuccessfully，tofurnishforththeparlouratJellybrand’s，"nowsir，whatdoyouwantwithme？"
Ashespokehethrewhisblackovercoatwideopen，seatedhimselfontheedgeofoneofthechairsinadignifiedattitude，andcrossedhisfeet——whichwerenotinnocentofspats——oneovertheother。
TheProphetwasresolvedtodareall，andhe，therefore，answeredboldly，——
"MalkieltheSecond，Iwishtospeaktoyouasoneprophettoanother。"
AtthisremarkMalkielstartedviolently，anddartedasearchingglancefrombeneathhisblondeeyebrowsatHennessey。
"DoyouliveintheBerkeleySquare，sir，"hesaid，"andclaimtobeaprophet？"
"Ido，"saidHennessey，withmodestdetermination。
Malkielsmiled，alongandwreathedsmilethatwasfulloflusciousmelancholyandtragicsweetness。
"Theassumptionseemsratherridiculous——forgiveme，"heexclaimed。
"TheBerkeleySquare！WhateverwouldMadamesay？"
"Madame？"saidtheProphet，inquiringly。
"MadameMalkiel，orMadameSagittarius，asshealwayspasses。"
"Yourwife？"
"Myhonouredlady，"saidMalkiel，withpride。"Moretomealmostthananylunarguideorstarrymonitor。What，oh，whatwouldshesaytoaprophetfromtheBerkeleySquare？"
Heburstintohollowlaughter，shakinguponthecanechairtillitsveryfoundationsseemedthreatenedasbyanearthquake，andwasobligedtoapplytheflightofstorkstohiseyesbeforehecouldinanydegreerecoverhisequanimity。Atlengthheglancedupwithtearsrollingdownhischeeks。
"Excuseme，sir，"hesaid。"Butwhatcanyouknowofprophecyinsuchafashionableneighbourhood，closetoGrosvenorSquareandwithinsight，asonemaysay，ofPiccadilly？Oh，dear，oh，dear！"
"Butreally，"saidtheProphet，whohadflushedred，butwhostillspokewithpleasantmildness，"whatinfluencecanneighbourhoodhaveuponsuchasuperterrestrialmatter？"
"DidIsaiahresideintheBerkeleySquare，sir？"
"Ifancynot。Still——"
"Ifancynot，too，"rejoinedMalkiel。"NorBernardWilkinseither，oranyprophetthateverIheardof。Why，evenJesseJoneslivesoffPerkin’sRoad，WandsworthCommon，thoughhedoeskeepasitting—roominBernersStreetjusttoseehisclientsin，andheisaverylow—classperson，evenforaprophet。No，no，sir，Madameisquiteright。Shemarriedmedespitethedamning——yes，Isay，sir，thedamningfactthatIwasaprophet——"hereMalkieltheSecondbroughtdownoneofthedogskingloveswithviolenceuponthericketyparlourtable——"butbeforeeverwewenttotheRegistrar’sshemademetakeasolemnoath。
Whatwasit，doyousay？"
"Yes，Ido，"saidHennessey，leaningforwardandgazingintoMalkiel’slongandexcitedfaceroundwhichtheheavymatofpomadedhairvibrated。
"Itwasthis，sir——tomixwithnoprophetssolongaswebothshouldlive。Prophets，shetrulysaid，arelow—class，evendirty，persons。
Theirparties，their’athomes’areshoddy。Theyliveinfourth—rateneighbourhoods。Theyburngasandsitonhorsehair。Onlyinrarecasesdotheyhaveanybathroomintheirhouses。Theirinfluencewouldbebadforthechildrenwhentheybegintogrowup。HowcouldCoronamakeher/debut/"——Malkielpronounceditdebbew——"inpropheticcircles？HowcouldshecomeoutinDrakeman’sVillas，Tooting，ordancewithsuchyoungfellersasfrequentHagglin’sBuildings，ClaphamRise？Howcouldshedoit，sir？"
"Idon’tknow，I’msure，"gaspedtheProphet。
"NorI，sir，norI，"continuedMalkiel，withunabatedfervour。"Andit’sthesamewithCapricornus。Myboyshallnotbethrowninwithprophets。DidMalkieltheFirststartthe/Almanac/forthat？Didhefosterittillitwentfromthepoorservantgirl’satticintothegildedapartmentsofthearistocracyandlayevenuponRoyaltablesforthat？Didhe，Isay？"
"Ihaven’tanidea，"saidtheProphet。
"Hedidnot，sir。AndI——Imyself"——hearrangedthediamondpininhiswhitesatintiewithanalmostimperialgesture——"havenotfolloweduponthelineshelaiddownwithoutimbibing，asImaytrulysay，theloftyspiritthatguidedhim，theloftysocialspirit，asMadamecallsit。Therehavebeenotherprophets，Iknow。Thereareotherprophets。I
donotattempttodenyit。Butwhereelsethanhere，sir"——thedogskinglovelayuponthebreastofthechocolatebrownfrockcoat——"whereelsethanherewillyoufindaprophetwhohideshisidentitybeneathan/alias/，whoremains，asMadamealwayssays，/perdew/，andwhoconductshisprofessiononhonourableandbusiness—likelines？AmI
dressedlikeaprophet？"HesuddenlybroughthisdoubledfistdownupontheProphet’sknee。
"No，"criedHennessey。"Certainlynot！"
"Why，sir，howcanIbewhenItellyouthatMerriman&SaxsterofRegentStreetaremytailors，andhavebeensincemyfirstpairoftrouserings？DoIbearmyselfprophetically？IthinkyouwillagreethatIdonotwhenyouknowthatIamfrequentlymistakenforanoutsidebroker——yes，sir，andthatthishasevenhappeneduponthepieratMargate。YouhaveseenmydemeanouratJellybrand’s。Yousawmecomeintothelibrary。YousawmymannerwithFrederickSmith。Wasitassuming？DidIlorditoverthelad？"
"Certainlynot。"
"No。Imighthavebeenanybody，anyordinarypersonlivinginGrosvenorPlace，or，likeyourself，intheBerkeleySquare。Andsoiteveris。
Otherprophetsthereare——possiblymenofacertainabilityeveninthatdirection——butthereisonlyoneMalkiel，onlyonewhoattendsstrictlytobusiness，whodrawsagoodincomefromthestars，sir，andsatisfiesthepublicmonthin，monthout，withoutmakingafussaboutit。Waitafewyears，sir，onlywait！"
"Certainly，"saidtheProphet。"Iwill。"
"Waittillthechildrenaregrownup。WaittillCapricornushasgothisLatinbyheartandgonetoOxford。Then，andonlythen，youwillknowwhetherMalkieltheSecondistheexceptiontotheruleofprophets。
Yes，andMadameshallknowit，too。Shetrustedme，sir，asonlyawomancan。SheknewIwasaprophetandhadaprophetforafatherbeforeme。Andyetshetrustedme。Itwasadaringthingtodo。Manywouldcallitfoolhardy。Wouldn’tthey，sir？"
Thedogskinglovewasraised。TheProphethastenedtoreply，——
"Idaresaytheywould。"
"Butshewasnotafraid，andsheshallhaveherreward。CoronashallneversetfootinDrakeman’sVillas，norbreathetheairofHagglin’s。
Imusthaveaglassofwater，Imust，sir，indeed。"
Hegaspedheavilyandwasabouttorise，whentheProphetsaid：
"Joinmeinaglassofwine。"
"Ishouldbedelighted，"Malkielanswered。"Delighted，I’msure，butI
doubtwhetherJellybrand’s——"
"CouldnotFrederickSmithgooutandfetchusa——apintbottleofchampagne？"saidtheProphet，playingadesperatecardinthepropheticgame。
AnexpressionalmostofjovialityoverspreadthetragicfarceofMalkiel’sappearance。
"We’llsee，"heanswered，openingthedealdoor。"FrederickSmith！"
"Here，Mr。Sagittarius，"criedthesopranovoiceoftheyounglibrarian。
"Canyouleavethelibraryforamoment，FrederickSmith？"
TheProphetheldupasovereignoverMalkieltheSecond’snarrowshoulder。
"Yes，Mr。Sagittarius，forhalfamo！"
"Ah！Whereisthenearestchampagne，FrederickSmith？"
"Thenearest——"
"Champagne，Isaid，FrederickSmith。"
"IdaresayIcouldgetadozenatGillow’snexttherabbitshop，"
repliedtheyounglibrarian，thoughtfully。
TheProphetshudderedtothedepthsofhisbeing，buthewasnowembarkeduponhisenterpriseandmustcrowdallsail。
"GotoGillow’s，"heexclaimed，withanassumptionoffeverishgeniality，"andbringbackacoupleofrabbits——Imeanbottles。Theymustbedry。Youunderstand？"
Theyounglibrarianlookedoutofthewindow。
"Oh，I’llmanagethat，sir。Itain’training，"herepliedcarelessly。
TheProphetstifledacryofhorrorashepressedthesovereignintotheyounglibrarian’shand。
"Youcankeepthechange，"hewhispered，addinginatremulousvoice，"Tellme——tellmefrankly——doyouthinkinyourownmindthattherewillbeany？"
"Idon’tknowaboutinmyownmind，"rejoinedtheyounglibrarian，drawingatweedcapfromsomehiddenrecessbeneaththecounter。"ButifyouonlywanttwobottlesIexpectthere’llbetenbobover。"
TheProphetturnedaspaleasashesandhadsomedifficultyinsustaininghimselftotheparlour，whereheandMalkieltheSecondsatdowninsilencetoawaittheyounglibrarian’sreturn。FrederickSmithcamebackinaboutfiveminutes，withanostentatious—lookingbottlesmotheredingoldleafundereacharm。
"Therewasfourshillingsapiecetopay，sir，"heremarkedtotheProphetasheplacedthemuponthetable。"Igotthe’ourownmake’
brandwiththe’creamingfoam’uponthecorks。"
TheProphetbenthishead。Hewasquiteunabletospeak，buthesignedtotheyounglibrariantoopenoneofthebottlesandpouritscontentsintothetwotumblersofthickandratherdustyglassthatJellybrand’skeptforitsmomentsofconviviality。MalkieltheSecondliftedthegoblettothewindowandeyedthebeadednectarwithanairofalmostrakishanticipation。
"Ready，sir？"hesaid，turningtotheProphet，who，withatremblinghand，followedhisexample。
"Quite——ready，"saidtheProphet，shuttinghiseyes。
"Then，"rejoinedMalkieltheSecondinaformalvoice，"here’sluck！"
Heheldthetumblertohislips，waitingfortheProphet’sreplytogivethesignalforaunanimousswallowingofthepricelesswine。
"Luck，"echoedtheProphetinafalteringvoice。
Ashegraduallyrecoveredhisfaculties，heheardMalkieltheSecondsay，withanalmostdebauchedaccent，——
"Thatputsheartintoaman。IshallgiveGillowsanorder。Leaveus，FrederickSmith，andrememberthatMissMinervaisonnoaccounttobeletinheretillthisgentlemanandIhavefinishedthesecondbottle。"
TheProphetcouldnotresistawildmovementofprotest，whichwasapparentlytakenbytheyounglibrarianasapassionategestureofdismissal。Forhelefttheroomrapidlyandclosedthedoorwithdecisionbehindhim。
"Andnow，sir，Iamatyourservice，"saidMalkieltheSecond，courteously。"Letmepouryouanotherglassofwine。"
TheProphetassentedmechanically。Itseemedstrangetohavetodiesoyoung，andwithsomanyplansunfulfilled，buthefeltthatitwasuselesstostruggleagainstdestinyandhedrankagain。Thenheheardavoicesay，——
"Andnow，sir，Iamallattention。"
Helookedup。Hesawtheparlour，thegroundglassofthedoor，thetumblersandbottlesonthetable，thesharpfeaturesandstrained，farcicaleyesofMalkielframedinthematted，curlinghair。Thenallwasnotoveryet。Therewassomethingstillinstoreforhim。Hesatup，pushedthecreamingfour—shillingfoamoutofhissight，turnedtohisinterlocutor，andwithagreateffortcollectedhimself。
"Iwanttoconsultyou，"hebegan，"aboutmystrangepowers。"
Malkielsmiledwitheasyirony。
"StrangepowersinBerkeleySquare！"heejaculated。"TheBerkeleySquare！Butgoon，sir。Whatarethey？"
"Havingbeenledtostudythestars，"continuedtheProphetwithmorecomposureandgrowingearnestness，"Ifeltmyselfmovedtomakeaprophecy。"
"Weatherforecast，Isuppose，"remarkedMalkiel，laconically。
"Howdidyouknowthat？"
"Theeasiestkind，sir，thenumberonebeginner’sprophecy。CapricornususedtotellMadamewhattheweather’dbeassoonashecouldtalk。Butgoon，sir，goon，Ibeg。"
TheProphetbegantofeelratherlesslikeIsaiah，buthecontinued，withsomedetermination，——
"Ifthathadbeenall，IdaresayIshouldhavethoughtverylittleofthematter。"
"No，youwouldn’tsir。Whothinkstheirfirstbabyalittleone？Canyoutellmethat？"
TheProphetconsideredthequestionforamoment。Thenheanswered，——
"Perhapsyou’reright。"
"Perhapsso，"rejoinedMalkiel，indulgently。"Well，sir，whatwasyournextattempt——intheBerkeleySquare？"
TheProphet’ssensitivenaturewincedundertheobviousironyoftheinterrogation，buteitherthe"creamingfoam"hadrenderedhimdesperate，orhewastosomeextentsteeledagainstthesatirebytheawfulself—respectwhichhadinvadedhimsinceMrs。Merillia’saccident。Inanycaseheansweredfirmly，——
"MalkieltheSecond，inBerkeleySquareIhadarelation——anhonouredgrandmother。"
"You’vethebetterofmethere，sir。MyparentsandMadame’sareallinBromptonCemetery。Well，sir，you’dgotanhonouredgrandmotherintheBerkeleySquare。Whatofit？"
"Shewasnaturallyelderly。"
"Andyoupredictedherdeathandshepassedover。Verynaturaltoo，sir。Thenumbertwobeginner’sprophecy。Why，Corona——"
ButatthispointtheProphetbrokein。
"Excuseme，"hesaidinascandalisedvoice，"excuseme，MalkieltheSecond，shedidnothingofthekind。Whatevermyfaultsmaybe——andtheyaremany，Iamaware——I——I——"
Hewasgreatlymoved。
"Takeanothersupofwine，sir。Youneedit，"saidMalkiel。
TheProphetmechanicallydrankoncemore，graspingtheedgeofthetableforsupportintheenduranceofthefour—bobecstasy。
"Youprophesieditandshedidn’tpassover，sir，"continuedMalkiel，withunaffectedsympathy。"Iunderstandtheblow。It’scruelhardwhenaprophecygoeswrong。Why，evenMadame——"
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