"Oh，apolopony。Thanks，Chin，chin，Hen。Poloponyisit？"
Hestrodeoff，whistling"Sheworeawreathofroses"inapuzzledmanner，butstillpreservingtheaccepteddemeanourofabulwark。
AssoonasMr。GreenwasoutofsightLadyEnidsaid，——
"Wearen’tgoingtoHillStreet。"
"Aren’twe？"repliedtheProphet，feebly。
"No。ImustseeSirTiglathButtto—day。Iwantyoutotakemetohisdoor。"
"Whereishisdoor？"
"InKensingtonSquare。Doyoumindhailingafour—wheeler。Wecantalkprivatelythere。Noonewillhearus。"
TheProphethailedagrowler，wonderingwhethertheywouldbeabletoheareachother。AstheygotinLadyEnid，aftergivingthedirection，saidtothecabman，whowasashortperson，withcurlingebonwhiskers，abroken—upexpressionandabroken—downmanner：
"Driveslowly，pleaseandI’llgiveyouanextrasix—pence。"
"Lydy？"
"Driveslowly，andI’llgiveyouanothersix—pence。"
"HowdidyerthinkIwasgawingtodrive，lydy？"
"Iwonderwhycabmenarealwayssointerestedinone’sinmostthoughts，"saidLadyEnid，asthehorsefelldownpreparatorytostarting。
"Iwonder。"
"Ihopehewillgoslowly。"
"Heseemstobedoingso。"
Atthispointthehorse，afterknockingonthefrontofthecabwithhishindfeettenoradozentimes，gotup，hunghishead，anddrewalargenumberofdeepanddejectedbreaths。
"AmIgawingslowlyenough，lydy？"askedthecabman，anxiously。
"Yes，butyoucanlethimtrotalongnow。"
"Right，lydy，Iain’tpreventingofhim。"
AseventuallytheyscrambledslowlyforwardintheKensingtondirection，LadyEnidremarked，——
"Whydon’tyouhavethemsenttoJellybrand’s？"
"Havewhat？"askedtheProphet。
"Yourtelegrams。Themessagesfromyourdoublelife。Ido。"
"ButIassureyou——"
"Mr。Vivian，it’suselessreally。IfindyouhiddenawayintheinnerroomofJellybrand’swithMr。Sagittarius，closelyguardedbyFrederickSmith；fourpennychampagne——"
"Fourbob——shilling，Imean。"
"Oh，wasit？——Uponthetable。AfterI’vebeenpoisoned，andweareleaving，Mr。Sagittariuscallsafteryousuchexpressionsas’BanksoftheMouse——hearfromme——marrow——architectsandthelastday。’Youareobviouslyagitatedbytheseexpressions。Wereachyourhouse。Ifindyouhavebeenprophesyingthroughatelescope。ThenameofMalkiel——awell—knownprophet——ismentioned。Youturnpaleandglanceatmeimploringly，asiftosolicitmysilence。Iamsilent。Thenextdayyouannouncethatyouaregoingtohavetwoafternoonparties。"
"No，no，notafternoon！Ineversaidafternoon！"interposedtheProphet，frantically，asthehorsefelldownagaininordertoearntheextrasixpence。
"Well，twopartiesintheafternoon。It’sthesamething。Yousaytheyareodd。Youyourselfacknowledgeit。Youtellmeyouhavesecrets。"
"DidI？"
"Yes。WhenIsaidIhadguessedyoursecretyoureplied，’Whichone？’"
"Oh！"murmuredtheProphet，tryingnottosay"comein！"tothehorse，whichwasagainknockingwithbothfeetuponthefrontofthecab。
"Yougohome。Icallduringtheafternoon，andfindthatyouareentertainingallyourguestsinyourownlittleroomandthatyourgrandmotherknowsnothingofitandbelievesyoutobeworking。AsIamleavingIseethebacksoftwoofyourguests。Oneisapelisse，theotheraspottedcollar。AsInearthemtheymountintoapurpleomnibusonwhichisprintedinhugeletters，/’Tothe"PorkButcher’sRest"’/——"
"No！No！"ejaculatedtheProphet，palewithhorroratthisrevelation。
"/Rest/，CramptonVale，N。Ilosethemintheshadows。ThenextdayI
callandfindyourgrandmotherisdyingfromthenoisemadebyboysbringingyouprivatetelegrams。Andthenyoutellme，me——MinervaPartridge——thatyouhavenodoublelife！Yes，youcanlethimgetupnow，please。"
Thecabmanpermittedthehorsetodosoandtheyagainstruggledfunereallyforward。TheProphetwasstillverypale。
"Isupposeitisuselessto——verywell，"hesaid。"Mylifeisdouble。"
"Ah！"
"Butonlylately，quitelately。"
"Nevermindthat。Oh！HowgladIamthatyouhavehadthecouragetoo！
Youwillsoongetintoit，asIdid。ButyoushouldhaveallyourtelegramsandsoforthdirectedtoJellybrand’s。"
"It’stoolate，"repliedtheProphet，dejectedly。"Toolate。Idowishthathorsewouldn’tfalldownsocontinually！It’smostmonotonous。"
"Thepoormannaturallywantstheextrasixpence。IthinkIshallgivehimashilling。ButnowwhoisMr。Sagittarius？"
"Whoishe？"
"Yes。I’veseenhimseveraltimesatJellybrand’s，andwhenIfirstmethimIthoughhewasanoutsidebroker。"
"You！WasitonthepieratMargate？"
"Certainlynot！Really，Mr。Vivian！eveninmydoublelifeI
occasionallydrawtheline。"
"Ibegyourpardon。I——thehorseconfusesme。"
"Well，he’sstoppedknockingnowandwillbeupinanotherminute。WhodidyousayMr。Sagittariuswas？"
"Ididn’tsayhewasanybody，buthe’saman。"
"I’dguessedthat。"
"Andanacquaintanceofmine。"
"Yes？"
"I’mafraidit’sgoingtorain。"
"ItgenerallydoesinKnightsbridge。Yes？"
"IsSirTiglathlikelytobein？"
"HeknowsI’mcoming。Well，youhaven’ttoldmewhoMr。Sagittariusis。"
"LadyEnid，"saidtheProphet，desperately，"IknowverylittleofMr。
Sagittariusbeyondthefactthathe’saman，whichI’vealreadyinformedyouof。"
"Isheanoutsidebroker？"
"No。"
"Thenhe’sMalkiel。Youcan’tdenyit。"
"Icandenyanything，"saidtheProphet，who，alreadyupsetbytheeventsoftheday，wasnowgoadedalmosttodesperation。"Icanand——
andmust。There’sthehorsedownagain！"
"Ishallhavetogivethemanoneandsixpence。AreyourgoingtokeepyourpromisetoMrs。MerilliaandSirTiglath？"
TothisquestiontheProphetdeterminedtogiveadirectanswer，inordertodrawLadyEnidawayfromthemoredangeroussubjects。
"No，"hesaid，withaspasmofpain。
"Iknewyouwouldn’tbeableto。"
"Why？"
"Becausewhenone’soncebeenreallyandtrulysillyit’simpossiblenottorepeattheact，absolutelyimpossible。You’llneverstopnow。
You’llgoonfromonethingtoanother，asIdo。"
"Icannotthinkthatprophecyissilly，"saidtheProphet，withsomestiffness。
Shelookedathimwithfrankadmiration。
"You’reworsethanIam！It’ssplendid！"
"Worse！"
"Why，yes。You’refoolishenoughtothinkyoursillyactssensible。I
wishIcouldgettothat。ThenperhapsIcouldimposeonSirTiglathmoreeasilytoo。"
Sheconsideredthisideaseriously，astheystartedonagain，andgraduallygotfreeofthelittlecrowdthathadbeensittingonthehorse’shead。
"Imustimposeuponhim，"shesaid。"Andyou’vegottohelpme。"
"I！"criedtheProphet，feelingterriblyunequaltoeverything。"I
cannotpossiblyconsent——"
"Yes，dearMr。Vivian，youcan。Andiftwothoroughlysillypeoplecan’timposeupononesensibleoldman，itwillbeverystrangeindeed。
AndnowI’mgoingtotellyouwhatIhadn’ttimetotellyouyesterday。"
Sheleanedforwardandtappedsharplyontherattlingglassinfrontofthecab。Thecabman，bendingdown，twistedhiswhiskerstowardsher。
"Don’tgotoofast。"
"Ican’tget’imtofalldownagyne，lydy。’E’stootired。"
"Idaresay。Butdon’tlethimwalkquitesofast。"
Shedrewback。
"Mr。Vivian，"shesaid——andtheProphetthoughtshehadneverlookedmoresensiblethannow，asshebeganthisrevelation——"Mr。Vivian，amongthesillypeopleIhavemetinmydeardoublelife，whodoyouthinkaretheverysilliest？"
"Theanti—vaccinators？"
"No。Besides，theysooftenhavesmall—poxandbecomequitesensible。"
"Theatheists？"
"Iusedtothinkso，butnotnow。AndmostofthoseIknewareRomanCatholicsatpresent。"
"Thewomenwhodon’tdesiretobeslaves？"
"Therearen’tany。"
"ThetearersofPaderewski’shair？"
"Isoseldommeetthem，becausetheyallliveoutinthesuburbs。"
"Thetight—lacers？"
"Theygetrednoses，poorthings，anddisappear。They’renotpermanentenoughtocountastheverysilliest。"
"Igiveitup。"
"TheSpiritualistsandtheC-KanbaAPp点com-hristianScientists。That’swhyIlovethembest，andspendmostofmydoublelifewiththem。Howyouwouldgetonwiththem！Howmuchateaseyouwouldbeintheirmidst！"
"Really！Butaren’ttheyinoppositecamps？"
"Dearthings！Theyoftenthinkso，Ibelieve。Butreallytheyaren’t。
HalftheChristianScientistsbeginasSpiritualists。AndagreatmanySpiritualistswereonceChristianScientists。"
"Whichareyou？"
"Both，ofcourse。"
"Dearme！"
"Asyouwillbewhenyou’vegotthoroughlyintoyourdoublelife。Well，mygreatestfriend——inmydoublelife，youunderstand——isaMrs。VaneBridgeman，aChristianScientistandSpiritualist。Sheisveryrich，andmagnificentlyidiotic。Shesupportsallfoolishcharities。Shehasalmshousesforbroken—downmediumsonSunningtonCommoninKent。Shehasendowedahospitalforsickfortune—tellers。Shegavefivehundredpoundstothehomeforindigentthought—readers，andnearlyasmuchtothe’Palmists’SeasideRetreat’atMillabyBaynearDover。Idon’tknowhowmanyChristianScienceTemplesshehasn’terected，orsubscribedliberallyto。Sheturnseverytableinherhouse。Shewon’tleaveevenonealone。Herearlybreakfastsforstar—gazersarefamous，andit’simpossibletodinewithherwithoutsittingnexttoahoroscope—caster，orbeingtakenin——todinner，ofcourse——byacrystaldivineroranose—prophet。"
"Anose—prophet！What’sthat？"
"Apersonwhotellsyourfortunebytheshapeofyournose。"
"Oh，Isee。"
"Well，youunderstandnowthatthere’snosillierpersoninLondonthandearMrs。Bridgeman？"
"Oh，quite。"
"She’sdoneagreatdealforme，morethanIcaneverrepay。"
"Indeed。"
"Yes，inintroducingmetotherealinnercirclesofidiotcy。Well，inreturn，I’vesworn——"
"Youtoo！"
"Whatdoyoumean？"
"Oh，nothing。Ibegyourpardon。Pleasegoon。"
Shelookedathimcuriously，andcontinued。
"I’vesworn——thatis，pledgedmyhonour，youknow——"
"Iknow！Iknow！"
"Tointroducehertoatleastonethoroughlysensibleperson——aman，sheprefers。"
"Andyou’vechosen——？"
"SirTiglath，becausehe’stheonlyoneIknow。Once，Iconfess，I
thoughtofyou。"
"Ofme！"
"Yes，butofcourseIdidn’treallyknowyouthen。"
Shelookedathimwithgenuineregard。TheProphetscarcelyknewwhethertofeeldelightedordistressed。
"Now，yousee，Mr。Vivian，ifSirTiglathfoundoutforcertainthatI
wasMissMinerva，hemightdiscovermydoublelife，andifhedidthat，heissosensiblethatIamsurehewouldneverspeaktomeagain，andIcouldnotfulfilmyvowtodearMrs。Bridgeman。"
"Iquitesee。"
"Normyothervowtomyself。"
"Whichone？"
"Oh，nevermind。"
"Iwon’t。"
"HeonlysaidthataboutpartridgesinJanuary，Ifind，becausehehappenedtoseeoneofmylettersinJellybrand’swindow。Hedoesn’tassociatethatletterwithme。Soitoughttobeallright，andI’vearrangedmycampaign。"
"ButwhatcanI——？"
ShesmiledathimwithsomeScottishcraft。
"Don’tbother。You’vegottobemyaide—de—camp，that’sall。Ah，hereweare！"
Foratthismomentthehorse，withagreateffortsucceededinfallingdown，forthelasttime，beforetheastronomer’sdoor。
CHAPTERXII
THEELABORATEMINDOFMISSMINERVA
Onbeingshown，byanelderlyhousekeeperwithaBerlinwoolfringe，intoanold—fashionedovalbook—room，LadyEnidandtheProphetdiscoveredtheastronomersittingthere/tete—a—tete/withamuffin，whichlayonachinaplatesurroundedbymanuscripts，letters，pamphlets，booksandblotting—paper。Hewasengagedintracinglinesuponanimmensesheetoffoolscapwiththeaidofarulerandapairofcompasses，andwhenheperceivedhisvisitors，hemerelyrolledhisglassyeyesatthem，shookhislargeheadasifinrebuke，andthenreturnedtohisoccupationwithoututteringaword。
LadyEnidwasinnowiseabashed。Shelookedmoresensibleeventhanusual，andatoncecommencedhercampaignbytheremark，——
"IknowyouwonderwhyIwantedtoseeyouthisafternoon，SirTiglath。
Well，I’lltellyouatonce。Mr。Vivianhaspersuadedmetoactashisambassador。"
AtthisveryunexpectedstatementtheProphetstarted，andwasabouttoutterwhatmight，perhaps，havetakentheformofacarefully—wordeddenial，whenLadyEnidmadeaviolentfaceathim，andproceeded，inacalmmanner。
"Hewishesyoutodosomethingforhim，andhehasconfessedtomethathedoesnotquiteliketoaskyouhimself。"
OnhearingthesewordstheProphet’sbrain，alreadysorelytriedbythetragicduelwhichhadtakenplacebetweenhimselfandthecouplewholivedbesidetheMouse，temporarilycollapsed。Heattemptednoprotest。
Hismindindeedwasnotinaconditiontoinventone。Hesimplysatdownonasmallpileofastronomicalinstrumentswhich，withsomescientificworks，anencyclopaediaandapairofcarpetslippers，occupiedthenearestchair，andwaitedinadazedmannerforwhatwouldhappennext。
SirTiglathcontinuedmeasuringanddrawinglineswithaverythinpen，andLadyEnidproceededfurthertodevelophercampaign。
"Mr。Viviantellsme，"shesaid，"thathehasaveryoldanddearfriendwhoismostanxioustomakeyouracquaintance——not，ofcourse，foranyidlesocialpurpose，butinordertoconsultyouonsomeobscurepointconnectedwithastronomythatonlyyoucanrenderclear。
Isn’tthisso，Mr。Vivian？"
TheProphetshifteduneasilyontheastronomicalinstruments，and，graspingthecarpetslipperswithonehandtosteadyhimself，inanswertoanauthoritativesignfromLadyEnid，feeblynoddedhishead。
"But，"LadyEnidcontinued，apparentlywarmingtoherlies，"Mr。Vivianandhisfriend，knowinghowmuchyourtimeistakenupbyastronomicalresearchandhowintenselyvaluableitistotheworldatlarge，havenothithertodaredtointrudeuponit，althoughtheyhavewishedtodosoforaverylongtime，andhaveevenmadeoneattempt——attheColleyCibberClub。"
TheProphetgasped。SirTiglathtookabitoutofthemuffinandreturnedtohistracingandmeasuring。
"Onthatoccasionyoumayremember，"LadyEnidwentonwithincreasingvivacityandassurance，"youdeclinedtospeak。ThisnaturallydampedMr。Vivian——whoisverysensitive，thoughyoumightnotthinkit"——hereshecastaglanceattheinstrumentsonwhichtheProphetsat——"andhisfriend。Somuchso，infact，thatunlessIhadundertakentoactforthemIdaresaytheywouldhaveletthematterdrop。Wouldn’tyou，Mr。
Vivian？"sheaddedswiftlytotheProphet。
"Certainly，"heanswered，likeacreatureinadream。"Certainly。"
"Moreespeciallyasthefriend，Mrs。VaneBridgeman"——theProphetatthispointmadeaninarticulate，butveryaudible，noisethatmighthavemeantanything，andthatdidinfactmean"MercifulHeavens！whatwillbecomeofme？"——"Mrs。VaneBridgemanisalsoofaveryretiringdispositionandwouldhatetoputsuchamanasyouaretotheslightestinconvenience。"
SirTiglathtookanotherbiteatthemuffin，whichseemedtobegettingtheworstofthe/tete—a—tete/，rummagedamongthemessofthingsthatloadedhistabletillhefoundagiganticbook，openedit，andbegantocomparesomemeasurementsinitwiththosehehadmadeonthefoolscappaper。Hisbrick—redfaceglistenedinthelightofthelampthatstoodbesidehim。Hismoistredlipsshone，andheseemedtotallyunawarethattherewasanyoneinthechamberendeavouringtogainhisattention。
"Inthesecircumstances，SirTiglath，"LadyEnidwenton，withpleasantease，andasortofhomespunself—possessionthattrumpeted，likeamilitaryband，hersensibleness，"Mr。Vivianconsultedmeastowhattodo；whethertogivethewholethingup，ortomakeanappealtoyouattheriskofdisturbingyouandtakingupalittleofyourprecioustime。Whenhehadexplainedtheaffairtome，however，Iatoncefeltcertainthatyouwouldwishtoknowofit。Didn’tI，Mr。Vivian？Didn’tIsay，onlythisafternoon，thatwemustatoncetakeafour—wheelertoSirTiglath’s？"
"Yes，youdid，"saidtheProphet，inamuffledvoice。
"ForIknewthatnoinvestigation，noserious，reverentinvestigationintoheavenly，thatisstarry，conditionscouldbeindifferenttoyou，SirTiglath。"
Theastronomer，whohadbeenintheactofliftingthelastmorselofthemuffintohismouth，putitdownagain，andLadyEnid，thusvehementlyencouraged，wentonmorerapidly。
"YouknowofMr。Vivian’sinterest，almostmorethaninterest，intheplanets。Thisinterestisshared，wasindeedpromptedbyMrs。
Bridgeman，awomanofseriousattainmentsandacultivatedmind。Isn’tshe，Mr。Vivian？"
TheProphetheardavoicereply，"Oh，yes，sheis。"Heoftenwonderedafterwardswhetheritwashisown。
"Itseemsthatshe，duringcertainresearches，hituponanideawithregardto——well，shallIsaywithregardtocertainstars？——whichshecommunicatedtoMr。Vivianinthehopethathewouldcarryitfurther，andinfactclearitup。Didn’tshe，Mr。Vivian？"
"Oh，yes，shedid，"saidavoice，towhichtheProphetagainlistenedwithstrainedattention。
"ItwasinconnectionwiththisideathatMr。Viviandevelopedhisenthusiasmforthetelescope——whichledhim，perhaps，alittletoofar，SirTiglath，butI’msureMrs。Merilliaandyouhavequiteforgottenthat！"
HereLadyEnidpaused，andtheastronomerachievedthefinalconquestofthemuffin。
"HeandMrs。Bridgemanhavebeen，infact，workingtogether，shebeingthebrain，asitwere，andMr。Viviantheeye。You’vebeentheeye，Mr。
Vivian？"
"I’vebeentheeye。"
"But，despitealltheirardourandassiduity，theyhavecometoasortofdeadlock。Inthesecircumstancestheycometoyou，makingme——asyour，mayIsayintimate，friend？——theirmouthpiece。"
HereLadyEnidpausedratherdefinitely，andcastaglanceofapparentlyviolentinvitationattheProphet，asifsuggestingthathemustnowamplifyandfillinherstory。Ashedidnotdoso，aheavysilencefellintheroom。SirTiglathhadreturnedtohismeasuring，andLadyEnid，forthefirsttime，begantolookslightlyembarrassed。
Sendinghereyesvaguelyabouttheapartment，aspeopledoonsuchoccasions，shechancedtoseeanewspaperlyingonthefloorneartoher。Shebentdowntowardsit，thenraisingherselfupshesaid，——
"Mrs。Bridgemansometimeagocametotheconclusionthattherewasprobablyoxygenincertainstars，andnotonlyinthefixedstars。"
Atthisremarktheastronomer’scountenancecompletelychanged。Heswungroundinhisrevolvingchair，waggedhishugeheadfromsidetoside，andfinallyroaredattheProphet，——
"Isshetellingthetruth？"
"Ibegyourpardon，"saidtheProphet，boundingontheinstruments。
"Getoffthoseprecioustools，youngman，farmorevaluablethanyourfinitecarcase！Getoffthemthismomentandanswerme——isthisyoungfemalespeakingthetruth？"
TheProphetgotofftheinstrumentsand，inanswertoafirm，ScottishgesturefromLadyEnid，noddedhisheadtwice。
"What！"continuedSirTiglath，puffingouthischeeks，"awomanbeapioneeramongtheHeavenlyBodies！"
TheProphetnoddedagain，asmechanicallyasapennytoy。
"Theoldastronomerisexercised，"bawledSirTiglath，witheverysymptomofacuteperturbation。"Heisgreatlyexercisedbythenarrativeoftheyoungfemale！"
Sosaying，heheavedhimselfupoutofhischairandbegantorollrapidlyupanddowntheroom，alternatelydistendinghischeeksandpermittingthemtocollapse。
"Ishouldtellyoualso，SirTiglath，"interposedLadyEnid，asifstruckbyasuddenidea，"thatMrs。Bridgeman’soriginaladviserandassistantinherastronomicalresearcheswasacertainMr。Sagittarius，whoisalsoanintimatefriendofMr。Vivian’s。"
TheProphetsatdownagainupontheinstrumentswithathud。
"Getoffthoseprecioustools，youngman！"roaredtheastronomerfuriously。"Wouldyouimposeyourvilebodyuponthehenchmenofthestars？"
TheProphetgotupagainandleanedagainstthewall。
"Ifeelunwell，"hesaidinalowvoice。"Exceedinglyunwell。IregretthatImustreallybegoing。"
LadyEniddidnotseemtoregretthisabruptindisposition。Perhapsshethoughtthatshehadalreadyaccomplishedherpurpose。Atanyrateshegotuptoo，andpreparedtotakeleave。Theastronomerwasstillingreatexcitement。
"WhoisthisMr。Sagittarius？"hebellowed。
"Amanofscience。Isn’the，Mr。Vivian？"
"Yes。"
"Anastronomerofremarkableattainments，Mr。Vivian？"
"Yes。"
"Oneknowsnothisabnormalname，"criedtheastronomer。
"Heisverymodest，veryretiring。Mrs。Bridgeman’sisreallytheonlyhouseinLondonatwhichyoucanmeethim。Isn’tthatso，Mr。Vivian？"
"Yes。"
"Yousayhehasmadeinvestigationintothepossibilityoftherebeingoxygeninmanyoftheholystars？"
"Mr。Vivian！"
"Yes。"