to　a　feeble　tittup　like　water　dropping　from　a　tap　to　flagstones；　rose
  again　in　a　final　spurt　that　would　have　made　Southey　open　his　dictionary
  for　adjectives；　and　drained　away　to　death。
  The　lady　leaned　back。　For　the　first　time　her　composure　seemed　about　to
  desert　her　entirely。　That　fatal　sign　in　woman；　a　working　throat；
  swallowing　nothing　with　extreme　rapidity　and　persistence；　became
  apparent。
  〃A　glass　of　wine；　Miss　Minerva？〃　cried　Malkiel；　gallantly。
  He　placed　a　tumbler　to　her　lips。　She　feebly　sipped；　than　sprang　to　her
  feet　with　a　cry。
  〃I'm　poisoned！〃
  〃You　never　spoke　a　truer　word；〃　said　the　Prophet；　solemnly。
  〃What　is　it？〃　continued　the　lady；　frantically。　〃What　has　he　given　me？〃
  〃Champagne　at　four　shillings　a　bottle　brought　fresh　from　next　door　to　a
  rabbit　shop；〃　answered　the　Prophet；　looking　at　Malkiel　with　almost
  malignant　satisfaction。
  The　lady；　who　had　gone　white　as　chalk；　darted　to　the　door　and　flung　it
  open。
  〃A　glass　of　water！〃　she　cried。　〃Get　me　a　glass　of　water。〃
  The　young　librarian　came　forward　with　a　black　eye。
  〃It's　all　right；　ma'am。　The　gentleman's　gone；〃　he　piped。
  〃What　gentleman？　Give　me　a　glass　of　water　or　I　shall　die！〃
  The　young　librarian；　who　had　already　an　injured　air；　proceeded　from　a
  positive　to　a　comparative　condition　of　appearance。
  〃Well；　I　never！　What　gentleman！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃And　me　blue　and　black
  all　over；　to　say　nothing　of　the　bookcase　and　the　new　paint　that'll　be
  wanted　for　the　door！〃
  〃Can　you　chatter　about　trifles　at　such　a　moment？〃　cried　the　Prophet。
  〃Don't　you　see　the　lady's　been　poisoned？〃
  〃Whatby　the　old　gent？〃　returned　the　young　librarian。　〃Then　what　does
  she　come　to　a　library　for？　Why　don't　she　go　to　a　chemist？〃
  The　lady　turned　her　agonised　eyes　upon　the　Prophet。
  〃Take　me　to　one；〃　she　whispered　through　pale　lips。
  She　tottered　towards　him　and　leaned　upon　his　arm。
  〃Trust　me；　trust　me；　I　will；〃　said　the　Prophet。　〃Direct　me！〃　he　added
  to　the　young　librarian。
  〃There's　one　on　the　other　side　of　the　rabbit　shop；〃　said　that　worthy；
  who　had　suddenly　become　exceedingly　glum　in　manner　and　morose　in
  appearance。
  〃Thank　you。　Kindly　unlock　the　door。〃
  The　young　librarian　did　so；　lethargically；　and　the　lady　and　the　Prophet
  began　to　move　slowly　into　the　street。　Just　as　they　were　gaining　it
  Malkiel　the　Second　cried　out；
  〃One　moment；　sir！〃
  〃Not　one；〃　retorted　the　Prophet；　firmly。　〃Not　one　till　this　lady　has
  had　an　antidote。〃
  He　walked　on　with　determination。　Supporting　the　lady。　But　ere　he　got
  quite　out　of　earshot　he　caught　these　fragments　of　a　shattered　speech；
  hurtling　through　the　symphony　of　London　noises：
  〃Banks　of　the　MouseMadamesake　of　Capricorbe　sure　Iprobequick
  searchthe　very　corehear　from　mearchitectsmarrowalmanacthe
  last　daythe　Berkeley　square〃
  The　final　ejaculation　melted　away　into　the　somewhat　powerful　discord
  produced　by　the　impact　of　a　brewer's　dray　with　a　runaway　omnibus　at　the
  corner　of　Greek　Street；　which　was　eventually　resolved　by　the　bursting
  of　a　motor　carcontaining　two　bookmakers　and　an　acting　managerwhich
  mingled　with　them　at　the　rate　of　perhaps　forty　miles　an　hour。
  〃Yes；　please；　a　hansom；〃　said　Lady　Enid　Thistle；　some　five　minutes
  later；　as　she　and　the　Prophet　stood　together　upon　the　kerb　in　front　of
  the　rabbit　shop。　〃I　feel　much　better　now。〃
  The　Prophet　hailed　a　hansom　and　handed　her　into　it。
  〃Which　way　are　you　going？〃　he　asked。
  Lady　Enid　looked　doubtful。
  〃I　ought　to　be　going　back　to　Jellybrand's；〃　she　said。　〃I　had　an
  appointment。　But　reallyyou　see　Mr。　Sagittarius　is　there；　and
  altogetherI　don't　know。〃
  She　was　obviously　still　upset　by　the　〃creaming　foam；〃　and　the　other
  incidents　of　the　afternoon。
  〃Come　to　tea　with　grannie；〃　said　the　Prophet。
  〃She's　at　home？〃
  〃Yes。　She's　twisted　her　ankle。〃
  〃Oh；　I'm　so　sorry。〃
  〃Let　me　escort　you。〃
  〃Thanks。　I　think　I　will。〃
  〃You　won't　mind　stopping　for　a　moment　at　Hollings's？〃　said　the　Prophet；
  in　Piccadilly　Circus。　〃I　promised　to　buy　some　roses。　Somebody　is　coming
  in　to　tea。〃
  〃On；　no。　But　who　is　it？〃
  〃I　don't　know。　Only　one　person；　I　think。　An　old　friend；　no　doubt。
  Probably　the　Central　American　Ambassador's　grandfather。〃
  〃Oh；　if　that's　all！　I　feel　a　little　shaky　still。〃
  〃Naturally。〃
  The　Prophet　bought　the　roses　and　they　drove　on。
  〃It's　very　nice　of　you　not　to　ask　any　questions；〃　observed　Lady　Enid；
  presently。
  The　Prophet　had　been　thinking　it　was；　but　he　only　said；
  〃Oh；　not　at　all。〃
  〃I'm　a　woman；〃　promised　Lady　Enid；　〃and　I　don't　know　whether　I　can　be
  so　nice。〃
  The　Prophet　glanced　at　her　and　met　her　curious　grey　eyes。
  〃Tryplease；〃　he　replied　very　gently；　thinking　of　the　oath　which　he
  had　just　taken。
  Lady　Enid　was　silent　for　two　minutes；　then　she　remarked；
  〃I　have　tried；　but　I　can't　succeed。　Why　on　earth　were　you　closeted　in
  the　parlourat　my　time；　toowith　Mr。　Sagittarius　this　afternoon？〃
  〃Then　you　really　are　Miss　Minerva　Partridge？　And　it　was　really　you　who
  hadhadwell；　'bespoke'　the　parlour　at　half…past　three？〃
  〃Certainly。　Now　we　are　neither　of　us　nice；　but　we're　both　of　us　human。〃
  〃There　were　some　letters　for　you；〃　said　the　Prophet。
  Lady　Enid　wrinkled　her　smooth；　young；　healthy…looking　forehead。
  〃How　stupid　of　me！　I'll　fetch　them　to…morrow。　Well？〃
  She　looked　at　the　Prophet　with　obvious　expectation。
  〃I'm　so　sorry　I　can't　tell　you；〃　he　replied　with　gentle　firmness。
  〃Oh；　all　right；〃　she　rejoined。　〃But　now　I'm　at　a　disadvantage。　You　know
  I'm　Miss　Minerva。〃
  〃Yes。　But　I　don't　know　why　you　are；　or　why　you　go　to　Jellybrand's；　or
  why　you　rushed　into　the　parlour；　or　who　the　old　gentleman　was　that〃
  The　cab　stopped　before　Mrs。　Merillia's　house。
  In　the　hall；　upon　an　oaken　bench；　they　perceived　a　very　broad…brimmed
  top　hat　standing　on　its　head。　Beside　it　lay　two　pieces　of　a　stout　and
  knobbly　walking　stick　which　had　been　broken　in　half。　Lady　Enid　started
  violently。
  〃Good　Heavens！〃　she　cried。
  She　picked　up　the　walking　stick；　examined　it；　and　laid　it　down。
  〃I　don't　think　I　want　any　tea；〃　she　murmured。
  〃I'm　sure　you　do；〃　said　the　Prophet；　with　some　pressure。
  She　stood　still　for　a　moment。　Then；　catching　the　attentive　round　eye　of
  Gustavus；　who　was　waiting　by　the　hall　door；　she　shrugged　her　shoulders
  and　walked　towards　the　staircase。
  〃It's　very　hard　lines；〃　she　murmured　as　she　began　to　ascend：　〃all　the
  questions　you　wanted　to　ask　are　being　answered。　You　know　I'm　Miss
  Minerva　already。　In　another　minute　you'll　know　who　the　old　gentleman
  was　that〃
  The　Prophet　could　tell　from　the　expression　of　her　straight；　slightly
  Scottish；　back　that　she　was　pouting　as　she　entered　the　drawing…room
  where　Mrs。　Merillia　was　having　tea　withsomebody。
  CHAPTER　VI
  THE　OLD　ASTRONOMER　DISCOURSETH　OF　THE　STARS
  Never　before　had　the　Prophet　felt　so　alive　with　curiosity　as　he　did
  when　he　followed　Lady　Enid　into　Mrs。　Merillia's　presence；　for　he　knew
  that　he　was　about　to　see　the　venerable　victim　of　the　young　librarian's
  indignant　chivalry；　the　〃old　gent〃　who　had　come　to　intimate　terms　with
  Jellybrand's　bookcase；　and　who　had　kicked　and　knocked　at　least　a　pint
  of　paint　off　Jellybrand's　door。　His　eyes　were　large　and　staring　as　he
  glanced　swiftly　from　his　grandmother's　sofa　to　the　huge　telescope；
  under　whose　very　shadow　was　seated　no　less　a　personage　than　Sir　Tiglath
  Butt；　holding　a　cup　of　tea　on　one　hand　and　a　large…sized　muffin　in　the
  other。
  No　wonder　the　Prophet　jumped。　No　wonder　Mrs。　Merillia　cried　out；　in　her
  pretty；　clear　voice；
  〃Take　care　of　Beau；　Hennessey！　You're　treading　on　him。〃
  The　dachshund's　pathetic　shriek　of　outrage　made　the　rafters　ring。　Mrs。
  Merillia　put　her　mittens　to　her　ears；　and　Sir　Tiglath　dropped　his
  muffin　into　a　jar　of　pot…pourri。
  〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　the　Prophet；　earnestly。　〃Sir　Tiglaththis　is
  indeed　a　sura　pleasure。〃
  Lady　Enid　was　being　embraced　by　Mrs。　Merillia。　The　Prophet　extended　his
  hand　to　the　astronomer；　who；　however；　turned　his　back　to　the　company
  and；　diving　one　of　his　enormous　hands　into　the　pot…pourri　jar；　began　to
  rummage　violently　for　his　vanished　meal。
  〃What　is　it？〃　said　the　Prophet；　who　had　not　seen　the　muffin　go。　〃Can　I
  help　you？〃
  Still　presenting　his　huge　back　and　the　purple　nape　of　his　fat　neck　to
  the　assemblage；　the　astronomer；　after　trying　in　vain　to　extract　the
  lost　dainty　in　a　legitimate　manner；　turned　the　jar　upside　down；　and
  poured　the　rose…leaves　and　the　muffin　in　a　heterogeneous　libation　upon
  the　Chippendale　table。　After　a　close　examination　of　it　he　turned
  around；　holding　up　the　food　to　whose　buttered　surface　several　leaves
  adhered　in　a　disordered；　but　determined；　manner。
  〃Only　a　Persian　could　devour　this　muffin　now；〃　he　said；　in　his
  rumbling；　sing…song　and　stran