the　deal　and　ground　glass　door；　and　returned　to　the　counter；　whistling
  in　an　absent…minded　manner；　〃I'm　a　Happy　Millionaire　from　Colorado。〃
  CHAPTER　III
  THE　TWO　PROPHETS　PARTAKE　OF　〃CREAMING　FOAM。〃
  〃And　now；　sir；〃　said　Malkiel　the　Second；　pointing　to　a　couple　of　cane
  chairs　which；　with　the　table；　endeavoured；　rather　unsuccessfully；　to
  furnish　forth　the　parlour　at　Jellybrand's；　〃now　sir；　what　do　you　want
  with　me？〃
  As　he　spoke　he　threw　his　black　overcoat　wide　open；　seated　himself　on
  the　edge　of　one　of　the　chairs　in　a　dignified　attitude；　and　crossed　his
  feetwhich　were　not　innocent　of　spatsone　over　the　other。
  The　Prophet　was　resolved　to　dare　all；　and　he；　therefore；　answered
  boldly；
  〃Malkiel　the　Second；　I　wish　to　speak　to　you　as　one　prophet　to　another。〃
  At　this　remark　Malkiel　started　violently；　and　darted　a　searching　glance
  from　beneath　his　blonde　eyebrows　at　Hennessey。
  〃Do　you　live　in　the　Berkeley　Square；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃and　claim　to　be　a
  prophet？〃
  〃I　do；〃　said　Hennessey；　with　modest　determination。
  Malkiel　smiled；　a　long　and　wreathed　smile　that　was　full　of　luscious
  melancholy　and　tragic　sweetness。
  〃The　assumption　seems　rather　ridiculousforgive　me；〃　he　exclaimed。
  〃The　Berkeley　Square！　Whatever　would　Madame　say？〃
  〃Madame？〃　said　the　Prophet；　inquiringly。
  〃Madame　Malkiel；　or　Madame　Sagittarius；　as　she　always　passes。〃
  〃Your　wife？〃
  〃My　honoured　lady；〃　said　Malkiel；　with　pride。　〃More　to　me　almost　than
  any　lunar　guide　or　starry　monitor。　What；　oh；　what　would　she　say　to　a
  prophet　from　the　Berkeley　Square？〃
  He　burst　into　hollow　laughter；　shaking　upon　the　cane　chair　till　its
  very　foundations　seemed　threatened　as　by　an　earthquake；　and　was　obliged
  to　apply　the　flight　of　storks　to　his　eyes　before　he　could　in　any　degree
  recover　his　equanimity。　At　length　he　glanced　up　with　tears　rolling　down
  his　cheeks。
  〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃But　what　can　you　know　of　prophecy　in　such　a
  fashionable　neighbourhood；　close　to　Grosvenor　Square　and　within　sight；
  as　one　may　say；　of　Piccadilly？　Oh；　dear；　oh；　dear！〃
  〃But　really；〃　said　the　Prophet；　who　had　flushed　red；　but　who　still
  spoke　with　pleasant　mildness；　〃what　influence　can　neighbourhood　have
  upon　such　a　superterrestrial　matter？〃
  〃Did　Isaiah　reside　in　the　Berkeley　Square；　sir？〃
  〃I　fancy　not。　Still〃
  〃I　fancy　not；　too；〃　rejoined　Malkiel。　〃Nor　Bernard　Wilkins　either；　or
  any　prophet　that　ever　I　heard　of。　Why；　even　Jesse　Jones　lives　off
  Perkin's　Road；　Wandsworth　Common；　though　he　does　keep　a　sitting…room　in
  Berners　Street　just　to　see　his　clients　in；　and　he　is　a　very　low…class
  person；　even　for　a　prophet。　No；　no；　sir；　Madame　is　quite　right。　She
  married　me　despite　the　damningyes；　I　say；　sir；　the　damning　fact　that
  I　was　a　prophet〃　here　Malkiel　the　Second　brought　down　one　of　the
  dogskin　gloves　with　violence　upon　the　rickety　parlour　table〃but
  before　ever　we　went　to　the　Registrar's　she　made　me　take　a　solemn　oath。
  What　was　it；　do　you　say？〃
  〃Yes；　I　do；〃　said　Hennessey；　leaning　forward　and　gazing　into　Malkiel's
  long　and　excited　face　round　which　the　heavy　mat　of　pomaded　hair
  vibrated。
  〃It　was　this；　sirto　mix　with　no　prophets　so　long　as　we　both　should
  live。　Prophets；　she　truly　said；　are　low…class；　even　dirty；　persons。
  Their　parties；　their　'at　homes'　are　shoddy。　They　live　in　fourth…rate
  neighbourhoods。　They　burn　gas　and　sit　on　horsehair。　Only　in　rare　cases
  do　they　have　any　bathroom　in　their　houses。　Their　influence　would　be　bad
  for　the　children　when　they　begin　to　grow　up。　How　could　Corona　make　her
  /debut/〃Malkiel　pronounced　it　debbew〃in　prophetic　circles？　How
  could　she　come　out　in　Drakeman's　Villas；　Tooting；　or　dance　with　such
  young　fellers　as　frequent　Hagglin's　Buildings；　Clapham　Rise？　How　could
  she　do　it；　sir？〃
  〃I　don't　know；　I'm　sure；〃　gasped　the　Prophet。
  〃Nor　I；　sir；　nor　I；〃　continued　Malkiel；　with　unabated　fervour。　〃And
  it's　the　same　with　Capricornus。　My　boy　shall　not　be　thrown　in　with
  prophets。　Did　Malkiel　the　First　start　the　/Almanac/　for　that？　Did　he
  foster　it　till　it　went　from　the　poor　servant　girl's　attic　into　the
  gilded　apartments　of　the　aristocracy　and　lay　even　upon　Royal　tables　for
  that？　Did　he；　I　say？〃
  〃I　haven't　an　idea；〃　said　the　Prophet。
  〃He　did　not；　sir。　And　II　myself〃he　arranged　the　diamond　pin　in　his
  white　satin　tie　with　an　almost　imperial　gesture〃have　not　followed
  upon　the　lines　he　laid　down　without　imbibing；　as　I　may　truly　say；　the
  lofty　spirit　that　guided　him；　the　lofty　social　spirit；　as　Madame　calls
  it。　There　have　been　other　prophets；　I　know。　There　are　other　prophets。　I
  do　not　attempt　to　deny　it。　But　where　else　than　here；　sir〃the　dogskin
  glove　lay　upon　the　breast　of　the　chocolate　brown　frock　coat〃where
  else　than　here　will　you　find　a　prophet　who　hides　his　identity　beneath
  an　/alias/；　who　remains；　as　Madame　always　says；　/perdew/；　and　who
  conducts　his　profession　on　honourable　and　business…like　lines？　Am　I
  dressed　like　a　prophet？〃　He　suddenly　brought　his　doubled　fist　down　upon
  the　Prophet's　knee。
  〃No；〃　cried　Hennessey。　〃Certainly　not！〃
  〃Why；　sir；　how　can　I　be　when　I　tell　you　that　Merriman　&　Saxster　of
  Regent　Street　are　my　tailors；　and　have　been　since　my　first　pair　of
  trouserings？　Do　I　bear　myself　prophetically？　I　think　you　will　agree
  that　I　do　not　when　you　know　that　I　am　frequently　mistaken　for　an
  outside　brokeryes；　sir；　and　that　this　has　even　happened　upon　the　pier
  at　Margate。　You　have　seen　my　demeanour　at　Jellybrand's。　You　saw　me　come
  into　the　library。　You　saw　my　manner　with　Frederick　Smith。　Was　it
  assuming？　Did　I　lord　it　over　the　lad？〃
  〃Certainly　not。〃
  〃No。　I　might　have　been　anybody；　any　ordinary　person　living　in　Grosvenor
  Place；　or；　like　yourself；　in　the　Berkeley　Square。　And　so　it　ever　is。
  Other　prophets　there　arepossibly　men　of　a　certain　ability　even　in
  that　directionbut　there　is　only　one　Malkiel；　only　one　who　attends
  strictly　to　business；　who　draws　a　good　income　from　the　stars；　sir；　and
  satisfies　the　public　month　in；　month　out；　without　making　a　fuss　about
  it。　Wait　a　few　years；　sir；　only　wait！〃
  〃Certainly；〃　said　the　Prophet。　〃I　will。〃
  〃Wait　till　the　children　are　grown　up。　Wait　till　Capricornus　has　got　his
  Latin　by　heart　and　gone　to　Oxford。　Then；　and　only　then；　you　will　know
  whether　Malkiel　the　Second　is　the　exception　to　the　rule　of　prophets。
  Yes；　and　Madame　shall　know　it；　too。　She　trusted　me；　sir；　as　only　a
  woman　can。　She　knew　I　was　a　prophet　and　had　a　prophet　for　a　father
  before　me。　And　yet　she　trusted　me。　It　was　a　daring　thing　to　do。　Many
  would　call　it　foolhardy。　Wouldn't　they；　sir？〃
  The　dogskin　glove　was　raised。　The　Prophet　hastened　to　reply；
  〃I　daresay　they　would。〃
  〃But　she　was　not　afraid；　and　she　shall　have　her　reward。　Corona　shall
  never　set　foot　in　Drakeman's　Villas；　nor　breathe　the　air　of　Hagglin's。
  I　must　have　a　glass　of　water；　I　must；　sir；　indeed。〃
  He　gasped　heavily　and　was　about　to　rise；　when　the　Prophet　said：
  〃Join　me　in　a　glass　of　wine。〃
  〃I　should　be　delighted；〃　Malkiel　answered。　〃Delighted；　I'm　sure；　but　I
  doubt　whether　Jellybrand's〃
  〃Could　not　Frederick　Smith　go　out　and　fetch　us　aa　pint　bottle　of
  champagne？〃　said　the　Prophet；　playing　a　desperate　card　in　the　prophetic
  game。
  An　expression　almost　of　joviality　overspread　the　tragic　farce　of
  Malkiel's　appearance。
  〃We'll　see；〃　he　answered；　opening　the　deal　door。　〃Frederick　Smith！〃
  〃Here；　Mr。　Sagittarius；〃　cried　the　soprano　voice　of　the　young
  librarian。
  〃Can　you　leave　the　library　for　a　moment；　Frederick　Smith？〃
  The　Prophet　held　up　a　sovereign　over　Malkiel　the　Second's　narrow
  shoulder。
  〃Yes；　Mr。　Sagittarius；　for　half　a　mo！〃
  〃Ah！　Where　is　the　nearest　champagne；　Frederick　Smith？〃
  〃The　nearest〃
  〃Champagne；　I　said；　Frederick　Smith。〃
  〃I　daresay　I　could　get　a　dozen　at　Gillow's　next　the　rabbit　shop；〃
  replied　the　young　librarian；　thoughtfully。
  The　Prophet　shuddered　to　the　depths　of　his　being；　but　he　was　now
  embarked　upon　his　enterprise　and　must　crowd　all　sail。
  〃Go　to　Gillow's；〃　he　exclaimed；　with　an　assumption　of　feverish
  geniality；　〃and　bring　back　a　couple　of　rabbitsI　mean　bottles。　They
  must　be　dry。　You　understand？〃
  The　young　librarian　looked　out　of　the　window。
  〃Oh；　I'll　manage　that；　sir。　It　ain't　raining；〃　he　replied　carelessly。
  The　Prophet　stifled　a　cry　of　horror　as　he　pressed　the　sovereign　into
  the　young　librarian's　hand。
  〃You　can　keep　the　change；〃　he　whispered；　adding　in　a　tremulous　voice；
  〃Tell　metell　me　franklydo　you　think　in　your　own　mind　that　there
  will　be　any？〃
  〃I　don't　know　about　in　my　own　mind；〃　rejoined　the　young　librarian；
  drawing　a　tweed　cap　from　some　hidden　recess　beneath　the　counter。　〃But
  if　you　only　want　two　bottles　I　expect　there'll　be　ten　bob　over。〃
  The　Prophet　turned　as　pale　as　ashes　and　had　some　difficulty　in
  sustaining　himself　to　the　parlour；　where　he　and　Malkiel