trying　to　look　calm　and　dignified　while　everyone　was　ardently　preparing
  to　desert　them。
  〃The　old　astronomer　must　know　her　before　the　evening　is　one　hour　more
  advanced。　He　must　question　her　regarding　the　holy　stars。　He　must
  examine　her　and　this　Sagittarius；　who　claims　to　be　an　outside　broker
  and　yet　to　have　discovered　oxygen　in　the　fixed　inhabitants　of　the
  sacred　heavens。　My　cloak！〃
  The　last　words　were　bellowed　at　Gustavus；　who　rushed　forward　with　Sir
  Tiglath's　Inverness。
  The　Prophet　lowed　his　head；　and　metaphorically；　threw　up　the　sponge。
  〃Lady　Julia；〃　said　Mrs。　Merillia；　in　a　soft　voice　that　slightly
  trembled；　〃let　us　go　upstairs。〃
  The　two　old　ladies　bowed　with　tearful　dignity；　and　retired　with　a　sort
  of　gentle　majesty　that　cut　the　Prophet　to　the　heart。
  〃One　moment；　if　you　please！〃　he　said　to　his　guests。
  And　he　darted　out　of　the　room　and　leaped　up　the　stairs。　He　found　Mrs。
  Merillia　and　Lady　Julia　just　about　to　dispose　themselves　side　by　side
  upon　a　sofa　near　the　fire。　They　turned　and　looked　at　him　with
  reproachful　doves'　eyes。
  〃GrannieLady　Julia！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　implore　your　forgiveness。
  Pardon　me！　Appearances　are　against　me；　I　know。　But　some　day　you　may
  understand　how　I　am　placed。　My　position　ismymy　situationIyou
  do　not　wholly　condemn　me！　Waitwait　a　few　days；　I　implore　you！〃
  He　rushed　out　of　the　room。
  The　two　old　ladies　seated　themselves　upon　the　sofa；　and　tremblingly
  spread　abroad　their　damask　skirts。　They　looked　at　each　other　in
  silence；　shaking　their　elegant　heads。　Then　Mrs。　Merillia　said；　in　a
  fluttering　voice；
  〃Oh；　Julia；　you　were　a　lady　in　waiting　to　Her　Majesty；　you　were　kissed
  by　the　great　Duketell　metell　me　what　it　all　means！〃
  〃Victoria；〃　replied　Lady　Julia；　〃it　means　that　your　grandson　has　fallen
  into　the　clutches　of　a　dangerous　and　determined　ratcatcher。〃
  And　then　the　two　old　ladies　mingled　their　damask　skirts　and　their　lace
  caps　and　wept。
  CHAPTER　XVIII
  THE　SILLY　LIFE
  〃Call　a　cab　for　Sir　Tiglath；　Mr。　Ferdinand；〃　whispered　the　Prophet〃a
  four…wheeler　with　a　lame　horse。　I'll　take　both　Mr。　and　Madame
  Sagittarius　in　the　brougham。〃
  〃Must　the　horse　be　lame；　sir？〃
  〃Yes。　I　absolutely　decline　to　encourage　the　practice　of　using　good
  horses　in　four…wheeled　cabs。　It's　a　disgrace　to　the　poor　animals。　It
  must　be　a　very　lame　horse。〃
  〃Yes；　sir。〃
  And　Mr。　Ferdinand；　standing　upon　the　doorstep；　whistled　to　the　night。
  Strange　to　say；　in　about　two　minutes　there　appeared　round　the　corner
  the　very　same　cabman　who　had　conveyed　the　Prophet　and　Lady　Enid　to　the
  astronomer's　on　the　previous　day；　driving　the　very　same　horse。
  〃This　horse　will　do　admirably；〃　said　the　Prophet　to　Mr。　Ferdinand。
  〃He　isn't　lame；　sir。〃
  〃P'r'aps　not；　but　he　knows　how　to　tumble　down。　Sir　Tiglath；　here　is　a
  cab　for　you。　We　shall　go　in　the　brougham。　Zoological　House；　Regent's
  Park；　is　the　direction。　Let　me　help　you　in；　Madame。〃
  As　the　Prophet　got　in　to　sit　bodkin　between　his　old　and　valued　friends；
  he　whispered　to　the　footman；
  〃Tell　Simkins　to　drive　as　fast　as　possible。　We　are　very　late。〃
  The　footman　touched　his　hat。　Just　as　the　carriage　moved　off；　the
  Prophet　protruded　his　head　from　the　window；　and　saw　the　astronomer
  rolling　into　the　four…wheeler；　the　horse　of　which　immediately　fell　down
  in　a　most　satisfactory　manner。
  There　was　no　general　conversation　in　the　brougham；　but　the　Prophet；　who
  was　obliged　to　sit　partly　on　Madame；　and　partly　on　Mr。　Sagittarius　and
  partly　on　air；　occasionally　heard　in　the　darkness　at　his　back　terrible
  matrimonial　whisperings；　whose　exact　tenor　he　was　unable　to　catch。　Once
  only　he　heard　Madame　say　sibilantly　and　with　a　vicious　click；
  〃I　might　have　known　what　to　expect　when　I　married　a　Prophetwhen　I
  passed　over　the　/pons　asinoribus/　to　give　myself　to　a　/monstram
  horrendo/。〃
  To　this　pathetic　heart…cry　Mr。　Sagittarius　made　a　very　prolonged
  answer。　The　Prophet　knew　it　was　prolonged　because　Mr。　Sagittarius
  always　whispered　in　such　a　manner　as　to　tickle　the　nape　of　his　neck。
  But　he　could　not　hear　anything　except　a　sound　like　steam　escaping　from
  a　small　pipe。　The　steam　went　on　escaping　until　the　brougham　passed
  through　a　gate；　rolled　down　a　declivity；　and　drew　up　before　an　enormous
  mansion　whose　windows　blazed　with　light。
  〃Is　this　the　Zoological　Gardens？〃　inquired　Madame　in　a　stern　voice。　〃Is
  this　the　habitation　of　the　woman　Bridgeman？〃
  〃I　suppose　this　is　Zoological　House；〃　replied　the　Prophet；　sliding
  decorously　off　Madame's　left　knee　in　preparation　for　descent。
  〃My　darling！　my　love！〃　said　Mr。　Sagittarius。　〃I　swear　upon　the　infant
  head　of　our　Capricornus　that　Mrs。　Bridgeman　and　I　are〃
  〃Enough！〃　cried　Madame。　〃/Jam　satus/！　Be　sure　that　I　will　inquire　into
  this　matter。〃
  The　carriage　door　was　opened　and；　with　some　struggling；　the　Prophet　and
  his　two　valued　friends　emerged　and　speedily　found　themselves　in　a　very
  large　hall；　which　was　nearly　full　of　very　large　powdered　footmen。　In
  the　distance　there　was　the　sound　of　united　frivolities；　a　band　of
  twenty　guitars　thrumming　a　wilful　/seguidilla/。　Roses　bloomed　on　every
  side；　and　beyond　the　hall　they　beheld　a　vision　of　illuminated　vistas；
  down　which　vague　figures　came　and　went。
  Evidently　when　Mrs。　Bridgeman　let　herself　go　she　let　herself　go
  thoroughly。
  Mr。　Sagittarius　gazed　about　him　with　awe…struck　amazement；　but　Madame
  was　equal　to　the　occasion。　She　cast　the　rabbit…skins　imperially　to　a
  neighbouring　flunkey；　arranged　her　hair　and　fichu　before　a　glass；
  kicked　out　her　skirt　with　the　heel　of　one　of　the　kid　boots；　nipped　the
  green　chiffon　into　prominence　with　decisive　fingers；　and　then；　turning
  to　the　Prophet　with　all　the　majesty　of　a　suburban　empress；　said　in　a
  powerful　voice；
  〃Step　forward；　I　beg。　/J'ai　pret/。〃
  The　Prophet；　thus　encouraged；　stepped　forward　towards　an　aperture　that
  on　ordinary　days　contained　a　door；　but　that　now　contained　a　stout
  elderly　lady；　with　henna…dyed　hair；　a　powdered　face；　black　eyebrows　and
  a　yellow　gown；　on　which　rested　a　large　number　of　jewelled　ornaments
  that　looked　like　small　bombs。　At　this　lady's　elbow　stood　a　footman　with
  an　exceedingly　powerful　bass　voice；　who　shouted　the　names　of
  approaching　guests　in　a　manner　so　uncompromising　as　to　be　terrific。
  Each　time　he　so　shouted　the　stout　lady　first　started　and　then　smiled；
  the　two　operations　succeeding　one　another　with　almost　inconceivable
  rapidity　and　violence。
  〃What　name；　sir？〃　asked　the　footman　of　the　Prophet；　bending　his
  powdered　head　till　it　was　only　about　six　feet　two　inches　from　the
  floor。
  〃Mr。　Hennessey　Vivian；〃　replied　the　Prophet；　hesitating　as　to　what　he
  should　add。
  〃Mr。　Hemmerspeed　Vivian！〃　roared　the　footman。　〃What　name；　Madame？〃　（to
  Madame　Sagittarius）。
  〃Mr。　and　Madame　Sagittarius　of　Sagittarius　Lodge；　the　Mouse！〃　replied
  the　lady　majestically。
  〃Mr。and　MadameSegerteribusofSegerteribusLodge；　the　Mouse！〃
  bawled　the　footman。
  The　stout　lady；　who　was　Mrs。　Vane　Bridgeman；　started　and　smiled。
  〃Delighted　to　see　you；　Mr。　Segerteribus！〃　she　said　to　the　Prophet。
  The　Prophet　hastened　to　explain　through　the　uproar　of　twenty　guitars。
  〃Mr。　Vivian　is　my　name。　I　think　Miss　Minerva　Partridge〃
  Mrs。　Bridgeman　started　and　smiled。
  〃Of　course；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Of　course。　You　are　to　be　kind　enough　to
  introduce　me　some　day　to　Mr。　SagiSagisomething　or　other；　and　I　am
  to　introduce　him　to　Sir　Tiglath　Butt；　when　Sir　Tiglath　Butt　has　been
  introduced　to　me　by　dear　Miss　Partridge。　It　is　all　to　work　out
  beautifully。　Yes；　yes！　Charming！　charming！〃
  〃I　have　ventured　to　bring　Mr。　and　Madame　Sagittarius　with　me　to…night；〃
  said　the　Prophet。
  Mrs。　Bridgeman　started　and　smiled。
  〃They　are　my　old　and　valued　friends；　andand　here　they　are。〃
  〃Delighted！　delighted！〃　said　Mrs。　Bridgeman；　speaking　in　a　confused
  manner　through　the　guitars。　〃How　d'you　do；　Mr。　Sagittarius？〃
  And　she　shook　hands　warmly　with　a　very　small　and　saturnine　clergyman
  decorated　with　a　shock　of　ebon　hair；　who　was　passing　at　the　moment。
  〃Biggle！〃　said　the　little　clergyman。
  Mrs。　Bridgeman　started　and　smiled。
  〃Biggle！〃　repeated　the　little　clergyman。　〃Biggle！〃
  The　guitars　rose　up　with　violence；　and　all　the　hot；　drubbing　passion　of
  Bayswater　being　Spanish。
  〃Yes；　indeed；　I　so　agree　with　you；　dear　Mr。　Sagittarius；〃　said　Mrs。
  Bridgeman　to　the　little　clergyman。
  〃Biggle！〃　the　little　clergyman　cried　in　a　portentous　voice。　〃Biggle！
  Biggle！〃
  〃What　does　he　mean？〃　whispered　Mrs。　Bridgeman　to　the　Prophet。　〃How　does
  one？〃
  〃I　think　that　is　his　name。　These　are　Mr。　and　Madame　Sagittarius。〃
  Mrs。　Bridgeman　started　and　smiled。
  〃Biggleof　course；〃　she　said　to　the　little　clergyman；　who　passed　on
  with　an　air　of　reliant　self…satisfaction。　〃Delighted　to　see　you；〃　she
  added；　this　time　addressing　the　Prophet's　old　and　val