"IsGustavustobetrusted？"
　　"Trusted，ma’am！"criedMr。Ferdinand，lookingatGustavus，whohadassumedanexpressionofpaleandpatheticdignity。"Trusted——aLondonfootman！Oh，ma’am！"
　　Hisvoicefailed。Hechokedandbegantorummageinthepocketofhisblacktailcoatforhisperfumedhandkerchief。
　　"T’st，t’st！Imeanhisarms，"saidMrs。Merillia，pattingherdelicatehandsquicklyonthechair。"Canhecarryme？"
　　ThecountenanceofMr。Ferdinandcleared，whileGustavuseagerlyextendedhisrightarm，bentitsharply，andallowedhismagnificentbicepstoriseupinsuddenmajesty。Mrs。Merilliawasreassured。
　　"Hoistmetothedrawin’—room，then，"shesaid。"Hennessey，willyouwalkbehind？"
　　Theprocessionwasformed，andthelittleoldladyproceededbyasuccessionofjerkstotheupperfloor，hersilkgownrustlingagainstthebalusters，andhertinyfeetdanglinglooselyinmid—air，whileherlongandelegantheadnoddedeachtimeMr。FerdinandandGustavusprancedcarefullysidewaystoahigherstep。TheProphetfollowedsolicitouslybehind，withhandsoutstretchedtocheckanydangerousrecoil。Hisfacewasverygrave，butnotentirelyunhappy。
　　"Setmedownbythefire，"saidMrs。Merillia，whenshefoundherselfbeingsmoothlypropelledthroughtheatmosphereofthedrawing—room。
　　Themenialsobeyedwithbreathlessassiduity。
　　"Andnowbringmeasandwich，aglassoftoastandwaterandafan，ifyouplease。Yes，putthefootstoolwellunderme。"
　　"Dearestgrannie，"saidtheProphet，whenthemenhadretired，"areyouingreatpain？"
　　"No，Hennessey。Areyou？"
　　Mrs。Merillia’sgreeneyestwinkled。
　　"I！"
　　"Yes，atmyaccident。Formyankleissprained，I’malmostsure，andI
　　shallhavetolieuppresentlyinwetbandages。Tellme，areyoureallypainedthatIhavehadtheaccidentyouprophesied？"
　　Sheglancedfromhergrandsontothetelescopethatpointedtowardthestarsandbackagain。
　　"Iam，indeed，sincerelygrieved，"theProphetansweredwithgenuineemotion。
　　"Yes。ButifI’djumpedoutallright，andwassittin’herenowinaperfectconditionofhealth，you’dhavebeensincerelygrieved，too。"
　　"Ihopenot，grannie，"saidtheProphet。Buthelookedmeditative。
　　Mr。Ferdinandbroughtthetoastandwater，thesandwichandthefan。
　　WhenhehadtroddenacrossthecarpetoutoftheroomMrs。Merilliacontinued，——
　　"Hennessey，youseewherethispropheticbusinessisleadin’you。Ithasmadeyoucharmedatmyaccident。Yes，ithas。"
　　Shespokewithoutanypathos，humorouslyindeed，inabrighttonefullofcommonsense。Andshenoddedathimoverhertoastandwaterwithachaffing，demuresmile。ButtheProphetwincedandputhishandtohisthickbrownhair。
　　"No，no，"hecriedquickly。"That’simpossible。Itcan’tbe。"Butthestatementssoundedlikeperturbedquestions。
　　"Think！"saidhisgrandmother，lookingdownatherpoor，helplessfootasitlayonthevelvetstool。"IfIhadn’thadanaccidentto—night，you’dhavebeenobligedtothinkillof——of——whichofthemwasitthathadtheimpertinencetotalkmyaffairsoverwithyou？"
　　"MercuryandUranus，Jupiter，SaturnandVenus，"saidtheProphetwithalmostterriblegravity。
　　"Exactly。Ialwayshavethoughtillofthelast，butthat’snothin’todowithit。Weighmeinthebalanceagainstfiveplanets——aretheyallplanets？——andhowdothescalesgo？Yousee，Hennessey！"
　　TheProphetlookedmuchdistressed。Hesawhisbelovedgrandmotherbythefireandthebrightstarstwinklingthroughthefrostywindow—
　　panes。Hethoughtofhistelescope，ofSirTiglath，ofMr。Malkiel，andofthefuture，andthevelvetybluewallsofthedrawing—roomseemedtospinroundhim。
　　"Prophecy，"continuedMrs。Merillia，fanningherselftillthelacelappetsofherpricelesscapflutteredaboveherorderlyandclaspingwig，"isdangerous，foroftenitcancauseitsownfulfilment。Ifyouhadn’tsaidthatbecauseofacertainconjunctionofplanets——orwhateveritwas——inmyhoroscope，Ishouldhaveanaccidentto—night，I
　　shouldn’thavejumpedoutofthebrougham。IshouldhavewaitedforMr。
　　Ferdinandtoassistme，asbefitsagentlewoman。"
　　"But，grannie，IassureyouIwasmostanxioustosaveyou。IhopedI
　　hadmadeamistakeinyourhoroscope。Idid，really。IwassonervousthatIsenttoMr。Malkielwhileyouwereatthetheatreandimploredhimtolookintothematterasanexpert。"
　　"Mr。Malkiel！Whoishe？Doweknowhim？"
　　"No。Butweknowhismarvellous/Almanac/。"
　　"The/Almanac/person！Why，Malkielissurelyamyth，Hennessey，anumberofpeople，acompany，asyndicate，orsomethingofthatkind。"
　　"SoIthought，grannie。ButIhavemadeinquiries——throughadetectiveagency——andIhavediscoveredthatheisoneperson；infact，aman，justlikeyouandme。"
　　"Ratheranoddmanthen！IsheintheRedBook？"
　　"No。Heis，Iunderstand，ofaveryretiringandsecretivedisposition。
　　Infact，Ihavehadgreatdifficultyinlearninganythingabouthim。
　　ButatlengthIhavediscoveredthathereceivesandanswerslettersatanaddressinLondon。"
　　"Indeed。Whereisit？"
　　"Jellybrand’sLibrary，ElevenHundredZ，ShaftesburyAvenue。Isentaboymessengerthereto—day。"
　　"Didyoureceiveareply？"
　　"No。Ithinktheboy——althoughMr。Ferdinandtellsmeheworefourmedals，Ipresumeforcourage——musthavebecomenervousonperceivingMr。Malkiel’snameontheenvelope，havethrownthenotedownagrating，andboltedbeforehereachedtheplace，thoughhesaid——onhisBibleoath，IunderstandfromMr。Ferdinand——hedeliveredthenote。InanycaseIgotnoanswer。Howareyoufeeling？"
　　"Twisted，butprophetic。Iforetellthatmyanklewillbeswelledbeyondrecognitionto—morrow。Helpmetobed，Hennessey。"
　　TheProphetflewtohisdearrelative’sassistance，andMrs。Merilliaendeavouredtoriseandtoleanuponhisanxiousarm。Afterastruggle，however，inwhichtheProphettookpartandtwochairswereoverset，shewasobligedtodesist。
　　"Youmustringthebell，Hennessey，"shesaid。"Mr。FerdinandandGustavusmustcarrymetobedinthechair。"
　　TheProphetsprangtragicallytothebell。Itwasanswered。Theprocessionwasre—formed，andMrs。Merilliawascarriedtobed，stillsmiling，noddingateachstairandbearingherselfwithadmirablecourage。
　　AsMr。FerdinandandGustavusdescendedtothebasementafterthecompletionoftheirunusualtask，thelattersaidsolemnly，——
　　"Howevershouldmasterhavecometoknowasthemissiswouldn’tbeabletoputfoottofloorthisnight，Mr。Ferdinand？However？"
　　"Icannotansweryou，Gustavus，"Mr。Ferdinandreplied，shakinghisbroadandglobe—likehead，roundwhosebaldcupolathejet—blackhairwasbrushedintwohalfmoonsdecoratedwitharenowned"butler’sownspecialpomade。"
　　"Well，Mr。Ferdinand，"rejoinedGustavus，stretchingoutonehandforpaleale，theotherfor/FrenchRevolution/，"Idon’tlikeit。"
　　"Why，Gustavus？"inquiredMr。Ferdinand，preparingtoresumehisdiscussionwiththeaccommodatingupperhousemaid。"Why？"
　　"Becauseitseemsstrangelike，Mr。Ferdinand，"saidGustavus，liftingtheglasstohislips，the/FrenchRevolution/tohiseyes。
　　"Itdoseemstrange，Gustavus，"answeredMr。Ferdinand，leavingoutthe"like"inacultivatedmanner。"Itdo。"
　　Inthedrawing—roomtheProphetstood，withclenchedhands，gazingthroughthetelescopeatMercuryandUranus，Jupiter，SaturnandVenus，while，onthesecondfloor，Mrs。FancyQuinglet，Mrs。Merillia’sdevoted，butoccasionallydisconcerting，maid，swathedhermistress’sankleinbandagespreviouslysteepedincoldwaterandinvinegar。
　　CHAPTERII
　　MALKIELTHESECONDISBETRAYEDBYTHEYOUNGLIBRARIAN
　　Mrs。Merillia’saccidentmadeaverydeepimpressionupontheProphet’smind。Hethoughtitovercarefully，anddesiredtodiscussitinallitsbearingswithMrs。FancyQuinglet，whohadbeenhisconfidanteforfullthirtyyears。Mrs。Fancy——whohadnotbeenmarried——wasnolongeraprettygirl。Indeeditwaspossiblethatshehadnever，eveninherheyday，beenotherwisethanmoderatelyplain。Now，attheageoffifty—
　　oneandahalf，shewasafaithfulcreaturewithathin，pendulousnose，apale，hystericeye，atendencytocoldintheheadandchilblainsintheautumnoftheyear，andasomewhatincoherentandoccasionallyfrenziedturnofmind。Argumentcouldneveratanytimehavehadmucheffectuponhernature，andasshegrewtowardsmaturityitspoweroverhermostmarkedlydecreased。Thisfactwasrecognisedbyeverybody，lastofallbyMrs。Merillia，whowasatlengthfullyconvincedoftheexistenceofcertaindepthsinhermaid’speculiarcharacterbythefollowingcircumstance。
　　Mrs。Merilliahadabandy—leggeddachshundcalledBeau，whosenamewasformanyyearsoftenaffectionately，andquitecorrectly，pronouncedbyFancyQuinglet。Oneday，however，shechancedtoseeitwrittenuponpaper——B。E。A。U。
　　"Whateverdoesthatmean，ma’am？"sheaskedofMrs。Merillia。
　　"Why，Beau，ofcourse，Beau——thedog。Whatshoulditmean？"
　　"Bow？"criedFancy。"Ishewritso？"
　　"Ofcourse，sillygirl。ItiswrittenBeau，andyoucanpronounceitasyouwouldpronounceabowofribbon。"
　　Fancysaidnomore，thoughitwaseasytoseethatshewasmuchshakenbythiscircumstance。Butshecouldneverafterwardsbeinducedtoutterherfavourite’sname。Shewasphysicallyunabletospeakthewordsostrangely，soalmostimpiously，spelt。Thisshedeclaredwithtears。
　　Persuasionandargumentwereunavailing。HenceforthBeauwasalwayscalledbyher"thedog，"anditwasobviousthat，hadshebeenledouttothestake，shemusthaveburnedratherthansaveherselfbyapronouncingofthecombinationoflettersbywhichshehadbeensolongdeceived。
　　SuchaninflexiblemindhadMrs。Fancy，towhomtheProphetnowappliedhimselfwithgesturesalmostSinaic。
　　Shewasdressedinmouse—colouredgrenadine，andwasseatedinasmallchamberopeningoutofMrs。Merillia’sbedroom，engagedinwhatshecalled"plaintatting。"
　　"Fancy，"saidtheProphet，enteringandclosingthedoorcarefully，"youknowmewell。"
　　"Fromthebottle，sir，"sheanswered，dartingtheboneimplementsinandout。
　　"Haveyoueverthought——hasiteveroccurredtoyou——"
　　"Ican’tsayithas，sir，"Fancyreplied，withtheweakdecisionpeculiartoher。
　　Shewaseverpronethustoanswerquestionsbeforetheywerefullyasked，orcouldbeproperlyunderstoodbyher，andfromsuchprematuredecisionsasshehastenedtogiveshecouldneverafterwardsbepersuadedtoretreat。KnowingthistheProphetsaidrapidly，——
　　"Fancy，ifamanfindsoutthatheisaprophetwhatoughthetodo？"
　　Thelady’s—maidrattledherbones。
　　"Letitalone，sir，"sheanswered。"Letitalone，MasterHennessey。"
　　"Well，butwhatd’youmeanbythat？"
　　"WhatIsaysir。Ican’tspeakdifferent，normeanother。"
　　"Butcan’tyouexplain，Fancy？"
　　"Oh，MasterHennessey，thelivesthathavebeenwrecked，thehomesthathavebeenbrokeupbyexplainings！"
　　Hereyeseemedsuddenlylitfromwithinbysomefeverofsad，worldlyknowledge。
　　"Well，but——"theProphetbegan。
　　"Iknowit，MasterHennessey，andIcan’tknowother。"
　　Shesighed，andhergazebecamefixedlikethatofatyphoidpatientinadream。
　　"Themthatknowsotherletthemdeclareit，"sheejaculated。"Isayagain，asIdidafore——thehomesthathavebeenbrokenupbyexplainings！"
　　Shetatted。TheProphetbowedbeforeherdecisionandlefttheapartmentfeelingratherhungry。FancyQuinglet’scrumbswerenotalwayscrumbsofcomfort。HeresolvedtoapplyagaintoMr。Malkiel，andthistimetomaketheapplicationinperson。ButbeforehedidsohethoughtitrighttotellMrs。Merillia，whowasstillsteepedinbandages，ofhisintention。HethereforewentstraighttoherroomfromFancyQuinglet’s。Mrs。MerilliawaslyinguponacouchreadingaRussiannovel。Acupofteastoodbesideheruponatablenearabowlofredandyellowtulips，acanarywassinginginitscageamidashowerofbird—seed，and"thedog"laystretchedbeforetheblazingfireuponamilk—whiterug，overwhichapalerayofwintersunshinefell。AstheProphetcameinMrs。Merilliaglancedup。
　　"Hennessey，"shesaid，"youaregrowin’tolooklikeLordBrandling，whenhecombinedthePremiershipwiththeForeignOfficeandwehadthatdreadfulcomplicationwithIceland。Mydearboy，youarecorrugatedwiththoughtandcare。Whatisthematter？Myankleismuchbetter。Youneednotbeanxiousaboutme。HasVenusbeenplayingyouanotherjade’strick？"
　　TheProphetsatdownandstrokedBeau’ssablebackwithhisforefinger。
　　"IhavescarcelylookedatVenussinceyouwereinjured，grannie，"heanswered。"Ihavescarcelydaredto。"
　　"I’mgladtohearit。SincethedaysofAdonisshehasalwayshadadangerousinfluenceonyoungmen。Ifyouwanttolookatanybody，lookatthatpretty，sensiblecousinofRobertGreen’s。"
　　"LadyEnid。Yes，sheissensible。IbelievesheisinHampshirestayingwiththeChurchmores。"
　　Helookedcalmerforamoment，butthecorrugatedexpressionquicklyreturned。
　　"Grannie，"hesaid，"IthinkitmydutytomakeanefforttoseeMr。
　　Malkiel。"
　　"The/Almanac/man。Whatdoyouwantwithhim？"
　　Shetappedoneofhersmall，mittenedhandsovertheotherandslightlytwistedherlongandpointednose。
　　"Iwanttolearnhisviewsonthisstrangefacultyofprophecy。Hasiteveroccurredtoyouthatamongallourimmenseacquaintancewedon’tnumberasingleprophet？"
　　"Onecan’tknoweverybody，Hennessey。AndIbelievethatprophetsalwaysspringfromthelowerclasses。Thelinemustbedrawnsomewhereeveninthesedays。"
　　"Whynotdrawitatmillionairesthen？"
　　"Ishouldliketo。Somethin’willhavetobedone。Ifthenobodiescontinuetogoeverywheretheveryfewsomebodiesthatareleftwillsoongonowhere。
　　"Perhapstheydogonowhere。Perhapsthatiswhywehavenevermetaprophet。"
　　Mrs。Merillialookedupsharply，withherwide，cheerfulmouthsetawryinashrewdsmilethatseemedtosay"Soho！"Sherecognisedastrange，newnoteofprofound，thoughnotarrogant，self—respectinhergrandson。
　　"Prophets，"Hennesseyaddedmoregently，"havealwaysbeeninclinedtodwellinthewilderness。"
　　"Butwherecanyoufindawildernessinthesedays？"askedMrs。
　　Merillia，stillsmiling。"EvenHammersmithisbecomin’quiteafashionableneighbourhood。Andyousaythatthe/Almanac/manlivesinShaftesburyAvenue，onlyhalfaminutefromPiccadillyCircus。"
　　"Mydeargrannie，"hecorrectedher，"Isaidhereceivedlettersthere。
　　Idon’tknowwherehelives。"
　　"Howareyougoin’tofindhimthen？"
　　"IshallcallthisafternoonatelevenhundredZ。"
　　"Toseeifhehasruninforapostcard！Andwhatsortofpersondoyouexpecthimtobe？"
　　"Somethingquiteoutofthecommon。"
　　Mrs。Merilliascreweduphereyesdoubtfully。
　　"Ihopeyouwon’tbedisappointed。Howmanyeditionshavetherebeenofthe/Almanac/？"
　　"Seventyyearlyeditions。"
　　"ThenMalkielmustbeaveryoldman。"
　　"ButthisMr。MalkielisMalkieltheSecond。"
　　"Oneofadynasty！Thataltersthecase。Perhapshe’sayoungmanabouttown。Thereareyoungmenabouttown，Ibelieve，whohaveaddressesatclubsandlibraries，andsleepondoorsteps，orinthePark。Well，Hennessey，Iseeyouaregettingfidgety。Youhadbetterbeoff。Buymesomerosesformyroomonyourwayhome。I’mexpectin’someonetohaveteawiththepoorvictimofprophecythisafternoon。"
　　TheProphetkissedhisgrandmother，putonhisovercoatandsteppedintothesquare。
　　Itwasabright，frosty，genialday，andheresolvedtowalktoJellybrand’sLibrary。
　　Londonwaslookingquitelight—heartedinthedry，coldair，whichsetabloomevenuponthecheeksoftheambassadorswhowereabout，andcausedthebutcherboystoappearlikepeonies。Thecrossing—sweeperssweptnothingvigorously，andwererewardedwithshowersofpencefrompedestriansdelightingintheabsenceofmud。CrystalassomegardenofaneternalcityseemedthegreenPark，wrappedinitsfrostymantleembroideredwithsunbeams。Eventhedriversofthe"growlers"weremoderatelycheerful——averyrareoccurrence——andtheblindmanofPiccadillysmiledasheroaredalongthehighway，strikingthefeetofthecharitablewiththewandwhichwastheemblemofhisprofession。
　　OnlytheProphetwassolemnonthisdeliciousafternoon。Peoplelookedathimandthoughtthathemustsurelybetherichestmanofthetown。
　　Hisfacewassosad。
　　Hewoundacrossthewhirlpool，wherethegreenimageposturestothehumanstreamsthatriotbelowit。Hesawbeneaththeirroovesofostrichfeathersthegirlsshaketheirlongearringsabovesweetvioletsandrosesfaintingwithdesiretobeboughtbycountrycousins。
　　"WhereiselevenhundredZ，ifyouplease？"heaskedtheShaftesburyAvenuepoliceman。
　　"Jellybrand’ssir？Ontherightbetweenthecreamshopandtheenginewarehouse，justoppositetheplacewheretheysellparrots，afterthattherepatentmedicinedepot。"
　　TheProphetbowed，thinkingoftheblessingsofknowledge。Inamomenthestoodbeforethelibraryandglancedatitsdirtywindow。Hesawseveralletterslyingagainsttheglass。Onewasaddressedto"MissMinervaPartridge。"Hesteppedin，wonderingwhatshewaslike。
　　Jellybrand’sLibrarywasasmall，squareroomcontainingaletterrack，anewspaperstand，abookcaseandacounter。Itwasfittedupwithletters，papers，books，andabigboywithabulginghead。Thelast—
　　namedstoodbehindthecounter，strokinghisirregularprofilewithonehand，andthrowingaboxofJnibsintotheairandcatchingitwiththeother。UpontheProphet’sentrancethisyouthobliginglydroppedthenibsaccidentallyuponthefloor，andarrangedhissharpandanemicfaceinanexpressionofconsumptiveinquiry。TheProphetapproachedthecountersoftly，andallowedthesablewithwhichhiscoatwastrimmedtorestagainstit。
　　"DidaboymessengercallhereafewdaysagowithanoteforMr。
　　Malkiel？"heasked。
　　Theyounglibrarianassumedanattitudeofvitalsuspicionandtheexpressionofalynx。
　　"ForMalkieltheSecond，sir？"herepliedinapiercingsopranovoice。
　　"Yes，"saidtheProphet。"Aboymessengerwithfourmedals。Therewasacrestontheenvelope——anelephantrampantsurroundedbyaswarmofbees。"
　　Adoggedlookofcombinedterrorandresolutionoverspreadtheyounglibrarian’scountenance。
　　"There’sbeennoelephantandnoswarmofbeesinhere，"hesaidwithtremblingcurtness。
　　"Youaresureyouwouldhaverememberedthecircumstanceiftherehadbeen？"
　　"Rather！Whatdoyouthink？Wedon’tallowthingsofthemsortinhere，Icantellyou。"
　　TheProphetdrewouthalfasovereign，uponwhicharayofsunshineimmediatelyfellasifinbenediction。
　　"DoesMr。Malkiel——？
　　"MalkieltheSecond，"interruptedtheyounglibrarian，whosepinkisheyeswinkedattheilluminationofthegold。
　　"MalkieltheSecondevercallhere——inperson？"
　　"Inperson？"saidtheyounglibrarian，verysuspiciously。
　　"Exactly。"
　　"Idon’tknowaboutinperson。Hecallshere。"
　　"Ah，"saidtheProphet，recognisingintheyouthaliterarysensethatinstinctivelyrejectedsuperfluity。"Hedoescall。MayIaskwhen？"
　　"Whenhechooses，"saidtheyounglibrarian，andhewinkedagain。
　　"Doeshechooseoften？"
　　"He’sgothisday，likeMissPartridgeandlotsof’em。"
　　"Isee。Ishisday——bychance——aThursday？"
　　ItwasaThursdayafternoon。
　　"Idon’tknowaboutbychance，"rejoinedtheyounglibrarian，hisliterarysenseagaincomingintoplay。"Butit’s——"
　　Atthismomentthelibrarydooropened，andatall，thin，middle—agedmanwalkedinsidewayswithhisfeetverymuchturnedouttorightandleftofhim。
　　"Anyletters，FrederickSmith？"hesaidinahollowvoice，onreachingthecounter。
　　"Two，Mr。Sagittarius，Ibelieve，"repliedtheyounglibrarian，movingwithrespectfulceleritytowardstheletterrack。
　　TheProphetstartedandlookedeagerlyatthenewcomer。Hiseyesresteduponanindividualwhosefacewascomicinoutlinewithaseriousexpression，andwhoseformsuggestedtragicfarcedressedtorepresentcommonplace，asseenatMargateandelsewhere。Atophat，aspottedcollar，apinkshirt，awhitesatintie，achocolatebrownfrockcoat，browntrousersandboots，andablackovercoatthrownopenfromtoptobottom——theseappurtenances，clerklyintheiradherencetoacertainconvention，couldnotwhollydisguisetheemotionalexpressionthatseemssometimestolurkinshape。ThelinesofMr。Sagittariusdefiedtheirclothing。Hisshouldersgavethelietothechocolatebrownfrockcoat。Hislegsbreatheddefiancetothetrousersthatsheathedthem。
　　Onecould，infancy，seetheformershruggedinalltheabandonmentofthird—actdespair，beholdthelatterdartingwildlyforthecoveraffordedbyacopper，acupboard，oranyotherfriendlyrefugeofthosepoorvictimsofludicrousandterrificcircumstancewhoaresosorelysmittenandafflicteduponthefunnystage。
　　Mr。Sagittarius，infine，seemedamandressedinamaskthatwasunabletodeceive。Hisleanfacewasalmostabsurdinitsirregularity，itshighcheek—bonesanddeepdepressions，itssharpnose，extensivemouthandnervouschin。Butthepaleblueeyesthatwereitssoulshoneplaintivelybeneaththeirshaggy，blondeeyebrows，andevenanapplicationofpomadealmosthystericallylavishcouldnotentirelyconcealthecurlinggloomoftheheavy，mattedhair。
　　"Yes，two，Mr。Sagittarius，"criedtheyounglibrarian，approachingfromtherack。
　　Thegentlemanheldoutahandcoveredwithayellowdogskinglove。
　　"Thankyou，FrederickSmith，"hesaid。
　　Andheturnedtoleavethebuilding。ButtheProphetinterceptedhim。
　　"Excuseme，"saidtheProphet。"Ibegyourpardon，but——but——"helookedattheyounglibrarianandaccidentallyletthehalfsovereignfallonthecounter。Itgavethetruering。"IbelieveIheardyoumention——letdropthenameMr。Sagittarius。"
　　"Idon’tknowaboutletdrop，"begantheyouthinhisusualrevisingmanner。"ButI——"
　　Atthispointthegentlemaninquestionbegantomoveratherhastilysidewaystowardsthedoor。TheProphetfollowedhimupandgotbeforehimneartheletterrack，whiletheyounglibrarianretrievedthehalfsovereignandbititwithhisteeth。