The　Prophet　of　Berkeley　Square
  by　Robert　Hichens
  CHAPTER　I
  MRS。　MERILLIA　IS　CARRIED　TO　BED
  The　great　telescope　of　the　Prophet　was　carefully　adjusted　upon　its
  lofty；　brass…bound　stand　in　the　bow　window　of　Number　One　Thousand
  Berkeley　Square。　It　pointed　towards　the　remarkably　bright　stars　which
  twinkled　in　the　December　sky　over　frosty　London；　those　guardian　stars
  which　always　seemed　to　the　Prophet　to　watch　with　peculiar　solicitude
  over　the　most　respectable　neighbourhood　in　which　he　resided。　The
  polestar　had　its　eye　even　now　upon　the　mansion　of　an　adjacent　ex…
  premier；　the　belt　of　Orion　was　not　oblivious　of　a　belted　earl's　cosy
  red…brick　home　just　opposite；　and　the　house　of　a　certain　famous　actor
  and　actress　close　by　had　been　taken　by　the　Great　Bear　under　its　special
  protection。
  The　Prophet's　butler；　Mr。　Ferdinandthat　bulky　and　veracious　gentleman
  threw　open　the　latticed　windows　of　the　drawing…room　and　let　the　cold
  air　rush　blithely　in。　Then　he　made　up　the　fire　carefully；　placed　a　copy
  of　Mr。　Malkiel's　/Almanac/；　bound　in　dull　pink　and　silver　brocade　by
  Miss　Clorinda　Dolbrett　of　the　Cromwell　Road；　upon　a　small　tulip…wood
  table　near　the　telescope；　patted　a　sofa　cushion　affectionately　on　the
  head；　glanced　around　with　the　meditative　eye　of　the　butler　born　not
  made；　and　quitted　the　comfortable　apartment　with　a　salaried；　but　soft；
  footstep。
  It　was　a　pleasant　chamber；　this　drawing…room　of　Number　One　Thousand。　It
  spoke　respectfully　of　the　generations　that　were　past　and　seemed
  serenely　certain　of　a　comfortable　future。　There　was　no　too　modern
  uneasiness　about　it；　no　trifling；　gim…crack　furniture　constructed　to
  catch　the　eye　and　the　angles　of　any　one　venturing　to　seek　repose　upon
  it；　no　unmeaning　rubbish　of　ornaments　or　hectic　flummery　of　second…rate
  pictures。　Above　the　high　oaken　mantel…piece　was　a　little　pure　bust　in
  marble　of　the　Prophet　when　a　small　boy。　To　right　and　left　were　pretty
  miniatures　in　golden　frames　of　the　Prophet's　delightfully　numerous
  grandmothers。　Here　might　be　seen　Mrs。　Prothero；　the　great　ship…
  builder's　faithful　wife；　in　blue　brocade；　and　Lady　Camptown；　who
  reigned　at　Bath；　in　grey　tabinet　and　diamond　buckles；　when　Miss　Jane
  Austen　was　writing　her　first　romance；　Mrs。　Susan　Burlington；　who　knew
  Lord　Byrona　remarkable　factand　Lady　Sophia　Green；　who　knew　her　own
  mind；　a　fact　still　more　remarkable。　The　last…named　lady　wore　black　with
  a　Roman　nose；　and　the　combination　was　admirably　convincing。　Here　might
  also　be　observed　Mrs。　Stuefitt；　Mistress　of　the　Mazurka；　and　the　Lady
  Jane　Follington；　of　whom　George　the　Second　had　spoken　openly　in　terms
  of　approbation。　She　affected　plum　colour　and　had　eyes　like　sloesthe
  fashionable　hue　in　the　neat…foot…and…pretty…ankle　period。　The　flames　of
  the　fire　twinkled　brightly　over　this　battalion　of　deuced　fine　women；
  who　were　all；　without　one　exception；　the　grandmothersin　various
  degreesof　the　Prophet。　When　speaking　of　them；　in　the　highest　terms；
  he　never　differentiated　them　by　the　adjectives　great；　or　great…great。
  They　were　all　kind　and　condescending　enough　to　be　his　grandmothers。　For
  a　man　of　his　sensitive；　delicate　and　grateful　disposition　this　was
  enough。　He　thought　them　all　quite　perfect；　and　took　them　all　under　the
  protection　of　his　soft　and　beaming　eyes。
  Of　Mrs。　Merillia；　the　live　grandmother　with　whom　he　had　the　great
  felicity　to　dwell　in　Berkeley　Square；　he　seldom　said　anything　in　public
  praise。　The　incense　he　offered　at　her　shrine　rose；　most　sweetly
  perfumed；　from　his　daily　life。　The　hearth　of　this　agreeable　and
  grandmotherly　chamber　was　attractive　with　dogs；　the　silver　cage　beside
  it　with　green　love…birds。　Upon　the　floor　was　a　heavy；　dull…blue　carpet
  over　whichas　has　been　intimatedeven　a　butler　so　heavy　as　Mr。
  Ferdinand　could　go　softly。　The　walls　were　dressed　with　a　dull　blue
  paper　that　looked　like　velvet。
  Here　and　there　upon　them　hung　a　picture：　a　landscape　of　George　Morland；
  lustily　English；　a　Cotman；　a　Cuypcows　in　twilighta　Reynolds；　faded
  but　exquisitely　genteel。　A　lovely　little　harpsichordmeditating　on
  Scarlattistood　in　one　angle；　a　harp；　tied　with　most　delicate　ribands
  of　ivory　satin　powdered　with　pimpernels；　in　another。　Many　waxen　candles
  shed　a　tender　and　unostentatious　radiance　above　their　careful　grease…
  catchers。　Upon　pretty　tables　lay　neat　books　by　Fanny　Burney；　Beatrice
  Harraden；　Mary　Wilkins；　and　Max　Beerbohm；　also　the　poems　of　Lord　Byron
  and　of　Lord　de　Tabley。　Near　the　hearth　was　a　sofa　on　which　an　emperor
  might　have　laid　an　easy　head　that　wore　a　crown；　and　before　every　low
  and　seductive　chair　was　set　a　low　and　seductive　footstool。
  A　grandmother's　clock　pronounced　the　hour　of　ten　in　a　frail　and　elegant
  voice　as　the　finely…carved　oak　door　was　opened；　and　the　Prophet
  seriously　entered　this　peaceful　room；　carrying　a　copy　of　the
  /Meditations　of　Marcus　Aurelius/　in　his　hand。
  He　was　a　neatly…made　little　man　of　fashionable；　even　of　modish；　cut；
  spare；　smart　and　whimsical；　with　a　clean…shaved；　small…featured　face；
  large；　shining　brown　eyes；　abundant　and　slightly…waving　brown　hair；
  that　could　only　be　parted；　with　the　sweetest　sorrow；　in　the　centre　of
  his　well…shaped；　almost　philosophical　head；　and　movements　light　and
  temperate　as　those　of　a　meditative　squirrel。　Having　just　dined　he　was
  naturally　in　evening　dress；　with　a　butterfly　tie；　gleaming　pumps；　and　a
  buttonhole　of　violets。　He　shut　the　door　gently；　glanced　at　his　nice…
  looking　grandmothers；　and；　walking　forward　very　quietly　and　demurely；
  applied　his　eye　to　the　telescope；　lowering　himself　slightly　by　a　Sandow
  exercise；　which　he　had　practised　before　he　became　a　prophet。　Having
  remained　in　this　position　of　astronomical　observation　for　some　minutes；
  he　deviated　into　the　upright；　closed　the　window；　and　tinkled　a　small
  silver　bell　that　stood　on　the　tulip…wood　table　beside　Malkiel's
  /Almanac/。
  Mr。　Ferdinand　appeared；　looking　respectfully　buoyant。
  〃Has　Mr。　Malkiel　sent　any　reply　to　my　inquiry；　Mr。　Ferdinand？〃　asked
  the　Prophet。
  〃He　has　not；　sir；〃　replied　Mr。　Ferdinand；　sympathetically。
  〃Did　the　boy　messenger　say　he　delivered　my　note？〃
  〃He　said　so；　sir；　on　his　Bible　oath；　sir。〃
  〃And　do　you　believe　him？〃
  〃Oh；　sir！〃　responded　Mr。　Ferdinand；　in　a　shocked　voice；　〃surely　a
  London　lad　would　not　be　found　to　tell　a　lie！〃
  〃I　hope　not；　Mr。　Ferdinand。　Stilldid　he　look　a　nervous　sort　of　lad？〃
  〃He　was　a　trifle　pale；　sir；　about　the　gillsbut　a　heart　of　gold；　sir；
  I　feel　sure。　He　wore　four　medals；　sir。〃
  〃Four　medals！　Nevertheless；　he　may　have　been　frightened　to　go　to　Mr。
  Malkiel's　door。　That　will　do；　Mr。　Ferdinand。〃
  Mr。　Ferdinand　was　about　to　bow　and　retire　when　the　Prophet；　after　a
  moment　of　hesitation；　added；
  〃Stay；　Mr。　Ferdinand。　Mrs。　Merillia　has　gone　to　the　Gaiety　Theatre
  to…night。　I　expect　her　back　at　half…past　eleven。　She　may　need
  assistance　on　her　return。〃
  〃Assistance；　sir！　Mrs。　Merillia；　sir！〃
  Mr。　Ferdinand's　luminous　eyes　shone　with　amazement。
  〃She　mayI　say　she　/may/have　to　be　carried　to　bed。〃
  Mr。　Ferdinand's　jaw　dropped。　He　gave　at　the　knees　and　was　obliged　to
  cling　to　a　Chippendale　cabinet　for　support。
  〃Have　an　armchair　ready　in　the　hall　in　case　of　necessity　and　tell
  Gustavus　to　sit　up。　Mrs。　Merillia　must　not　be　dropped。　You　understand。
  That　will　do；　Mr。　Ferdinand。〃
  Mr。　Ferdinand　endeavoured　to　bow；　and　ultimately　succeeded　in　retiring。
  When　his　tremulous　shoulders　were　no　longer　visible；　the　Prophet　opened
  Marcus　Aurelius；　and；　seating　himself　in　a　corner　of　the　big　couch　by
  the　fire；　crossed　his　legs　one　over　the　other　and　began　to　read　that
  timid　Ancient's　consolatory；　but　unconvincing；　remarks。　Occasionally　he
  paused；　however；　murmured　doubtfully；　〃Will　she　have　to　be　carried　to
  bed？〃　shook　his　head　mournfully　and　then　resumed　his　reading。
  While　he　thus　employs　his　time；　we　must　say　a　word　or　two　about　him。
  Mr。　Hennessey　Vivian　was　now　a　man　of　thirty…eight；　of　excellent
  fortune；　of　fine　connections；　and　of　admirable　disposition。　He　had
  become　an　orphan　as　soon　as　it　was　in　his　power　to　do　so；　having　lost
  his　fatherCaptain　Vivian　of　Her　Majesty's　Tenth　Lancerssome　months
  before；　and　his　motherwho　had　been　a　Merillia　of　Chipping　Sudburya
  few　minutes　after　his　birth。　In　these　unfortunate　circumstances；　over
  which　he；　poor　infant；　had　absolutely　no　controlwhatever　unkind
  people　might　say！he　devolved　upon　his　mother's　mother；　the　handsome
  and　popular　Mrs。　Merillia；　who　assumed　his　charge　with　the　rosy
  alacrity　characteristic　of　her　in　all　her　undertakings。　With　her　the
  little　Hennessey　had　passed　his　infantine　years；　blowing　happy　bubbles；
  presiding　over　the　voyages　of　his　own　private　Noahfrom　the　Army　and
  Navy　Stores；　with　two　hundred　animals　of　both　sexes！eating　pap
  prepared　by　Mrs。　Merillia's　own　/chef/；　and　sleeping　in　a　cot　hung　with
  sunny　silk　that　might　have　curtained　Venus　or　have　shaken　ab