ButatthispointtheProphetbrokein。
　　"Youaremistaken，"hecried。"Utterlymistaken。"
　　MalkieltheSeconddrewhimselfupwithdignity。
　　"InthatcaseIwillsaynomore，"heremarked，pursinguphislengthymouthandassumingacast—ironattitude。
　　TheProphetperceivedhismistake。
　　"Forgiveme，"heexclaimed。"Itismyfault。"
　　"Oh，no，sir。Notatall，"rejoinedMalkiel，withicyformality。"Prayletthefaultbemine。"
　　"Iwillnotindeed。Butletmeexplain。Mybelovedgrandmotherstilllives，althoughIcastherhoroscopeand——"
　　"Indeed！veryremarkable！"
　　"Imean——notalthough——butIthoughtIwouldcastherhoroscope。AndI
　　didso。"
　　"Inthesquare？"askedMalkiel，withquiet，butpiercing，irony。
　　"Yes，"saidtheProphet，withsuddenheat。"Whynot？"
　　Malkielsmiledwithanalmostpaternalpity，asofathoughtfulfathergazinguponthequaintandinappropriateanticsofhisvacantchild。
　　"Whynot，sir——ifyoupreferit？"herejoined。"Prayproceed。"
　　TheProphet’sfacewasflushed，eitherbythe"creamingfoam，"orbyirritation，orbyboth。
　　"Surely，"hebegan，inachokingvoice，"surelythestarsarethesamewhethertheyarelookedatfromBerkeleySquareorfrom——from——orfrom"——hesoughtpassionatelyforaviolentcontrast——"fromNewingtonButts，"heconcludedtriumphantly。
　　"IhavenotthepleasuretohaveeverobservedmyguidesfromtheneighbourhoodoftheButts，"saidMalkiel，serenely。"Butprayproceed，sir。Iamallattention。Youcastyourhonouredgrandmother’shoroscope——intheBerkeleySquare。"
　　TheProphetseizedhisglass，butsomeremnantsofhistatteredself—
　　controlstillclungtohim，andheputitdownwithoutseekingfurthermadnessfromitscontents。
　　"Idid，"hesaidfirmly，evenobstinately。"AndIdiscovered——Isaydiscoveredthatshewasgoingtohaveanaccidentwhileonaneveningexpedition——orjauntasyoumightperhapsprefertocallit。"
　　"Ishouldcertainlycallitso——inthecaseofaladywhowasanhonouredgrandmother，"saidMalkieltheSecondinassent。
　　"Well，MalkieltheSecond，"continuedtheProphet，recoveringhiscomposureasheapproachedhis/coup/，"mygrandmotherdidhaveanaccident，asIforetold。"
　　"Didshehaveitinthesquare，sir？"askedMalkiel。
　　"Andwhatifshedid？"criedtheProphetwithconsiderabletestiness。
　　Hewasbeginningtoconceiveaperfecthatredoftheadmirableneighbourhood，whichhehadlovedsowell。
　　"Imerelyaskforinformation，sir。"
　　"Theaccidentdidtakeplaceinthesquarecertainly，andontheverynightforwhichIpredictedit。"
　　MalkieltheSecondlookedverythoughtful，evenmorose。Hepouredoutanotherglassofchampagne，drankitslowlyinsips，andwhentheglasswasemptyrantheforefingerofhisrighthandslowlyroundandrounditsedge。
　　"CanMadamebewrong？"heejaculatedatlength，inamuffledvoiceofmeditation。"CanMadamebewrong？"
　　TheProphetgazedathimwithprofoundcuriosity，fascinatedbythecircularmovementoftheyellowdogskinfinger，andbytheinwardmurmur——soacutelymental——thataccompaniedit。
　　"Madame？"whisperedtheProphet，drawinghiscanechairnoiselesslyforward。
　　"Ah！"rejoinedMalkiel，gazinguponhimwithaneyewhosepupilseemedsuddenlydilatedtoamostpreternaturalsize。"Canshehavebeenwrongallthesemanyyears？"
　　"What——whatabout？"murmuredtheProphet。
　　MalkieltheSecondleanedhismattedheadinhishandsandreplied，asiftohimself，——
　　"CanitbethataprophetshouldliveinBerkeleySquare——notKimmins’s"——hereheraisedhishead，andrakedhiscompanionwithaglancethatwasalmostfierceinitsfervourofinquiry——"notKimmins’sbut——theBerkeleySquare？"
　　CHAPTERIV
　　THESECRETWATERSOFTHERIVERMOUSE
　　TothisquestiontheProphetcouldoffernoanswerotherthanabodilyone。HesilentlypresentedhimselftothegazeofMalkiel，instinctivelysquaringhisshoulders，openingouthischest，andexpandinghisnostrilsinanefforttofillaslargeaspaceintheatmosphereoftheparlouraspossible。AndMalkielcontinuedtoregardhimwiththestaringeyesofonewhosemindisseethingwithstrange，upheavingthoughtsandalarmingapprehensions。MutelytheProphetswelledandmutelyMalkielobservedhimswell，tillapointwasreachedfromwhichfurtherprogress——atleastontheProphet’spart——wasimpossible。TheProphetwasnowasbigasthestructureofhisframepermittedhimtobe，andapparentlyMalkielrealisedthefact，forhesuddenlydroppedhiseyesandexclaimed，——
　　"Thismattermustbethreshedoutthoroughly，Madameherselfwouldwishitso。"
　　Hepaused，drewhischairnearertotheProphet’s，tookoffagloveandcontinued，——
　　"Sir，youmaybeaprophet。YoumayhaveprophesiedcorrectlyintheBerkeleySquare。Butifyouare，andifyouhave，rememberthis——thatyouhaveprovedtheself—sacrifice，theprivation，thedenial，thesubterfuge，the/mask/，andthepositionofSagittariusLodgeinitsowngroundsbesidetheRiverMouseatCramptonSt。Peter，N。——N。，I
　　said，sir——totallyandentirelyunnecessary。Iwillgofurther，sir，andIwillsaymore。Youhavenotonlydonethat。Youhavealsoprovedthesacredinstinctofawoman，arespectablemarriedwoman——suchaswemustallreverence——falseanddeceived。Rememberthis，sir，rememberallthis，thensearchyourselfthoroughlyandsaywhetherwhatyouhavetoldmeisstrictlytrue。"
　　"Iassureyou——"begantheProphet，hastily。
　　ButMalkielsternlyinterruptedhim。
　　"Searchyourself，sir，Ibeg！"hecried。
　　"Butuponmyhonour——"
　　"Hush，sir，hush！Ibeg，nay，Iinsist，thatyousearchyourselfthoroughlybeforeyouanswerthismomentousquestion。"
　　TheProphetfeltratherdisposedtoaskwhetherMalkielexpectedhimtoexaminehispocketsandturnouthisboots。However，hesatstillwhileMalkieldrewoutalargegoldwatch，helditsolemnlyinhishandforacoupleofminutesandthenreturnedittothewaistcoat。
　　"Now，sir，"hesaid。
　　"Iassureyou，"saidtheProphet，"onmyhonourthatallIhavesaidisstrictlytrue。"
　　"AndtookplaceintheBerkeleySquare？"
　　"AndtookplaceintheBerkeleySquare。"
　　Malkielnoddedmorosely。
　　"Itmayhavebeenchance，"hesaid。"Aweatherforecastandanhonouredgrandmothermayhavebeenmereluck。Stillitlooksbad——verybad。"
　　Hesighedheavily，andseemedabouttofallintoamournfulreveriewhentheProphetcriedsharply，——
　　"Explainyourself，MalkieltheSecond。Youoweittometoexplainyourself。Whyshouldmystrangegift——"
　　"Ifyouhaveit，sir，"interruptedMalkiel，quickly。
　　"IfIhaveit，verywell——affectyou？Whyshoulditrendertheself—
　　sacrificeand——andthepositionof——ofSagittariusLodgeontheriver——
　　theriver——whatriverdidyousay——？"
　　"TheRiverMouse，"rejoinedMalkielinamuffledvoice，andshakinghisheadsadly。
　　"Exactly——ontheRiverMouseatCrompton——"
　　"Crampton。"
　　"CramptonSt。Petertotal——"
　　"N。！"
　　"What？"
　　"CramptonSt。Peter。N。Thatisthepoint。"
　　"Verywell——CramptonSt。Peteren，totallyandentirelyunnecessary？"
　　"Youdesiremyrevelation，sir？Youdesiretoenterintothebosomofafamilythathithertohasdweltapart，haslainasImaysay/perdew/
　　besidethesecretwatersoftheRiverMouse？Isitindeedso？"
　　"Oh，Ibegyourpardon，"criedtheProphet，hastily。"Iwouldnotfortheworldintrudeupon——"
　　"Thosehallowedprecincts！Well，perhapsyouhavetheright。
　　Jellybrand’shasbetrayedmetoyou。Youknowmyname，myprofession。
　　Whyshouldyounotknowmore？Perhapsitisbetterso。"
　　Withthesuddenenergyofamanwhoisrecklessoffateheseizedhisgoblet，pouredintoitatleastashilling’sworthof"creamingfoam，"
　　drainedittothedregsand，shakingbackhismattedhairwithaleoninemovementofthehead，exclaimed，——
　　"MalkieltheFirst，whofoundedthe/Almanac/，lay/perdew/allhislife。"
　　"BesidethesecretwatersoftheRiverMouse？"theProphetcouldnothelpinterposing。
　　"No，sir。Hewouldneverhavegonesofarasthat。ButhelivedanddiedinSusanRoadbesidethegas—works。Hewasagreatman。"
　　"I’msurehewas，"saidtheProphet，heartily。
　　"Hewishedmetoliveanddietheretoo，"saidMalkiel。"Buttherearelimits，sir，eventotheforbearanceofwomen。Madamewasaffected，painfullyaffected，bythegas，sir。Itstankinhernostrils——touseafigure。Andthentherewasanotherdrawbackthatshecouldnotgetover。"
　　"Indeed！"
　　"Thesweeps，sir。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon！"saidtheProphet。
　　"Isaid——thesweeps。"
　　"Iheardyou——well？"
　　"Beingtheonlypeoplethatwerenot，inthewholeroad，madeforloneliness，sir。"
　　TheProphetwasentirely/bouleverse/。
　　"I’mafraidI’mverystupid，butreallyI——"hebegan。
　　"IsitpossiblethatyouliveinLondon，sir，andarenotawarethatSusanRoadliesinthemostsought—afterportionofthesweeps’
　　quarter？"saidMalkiel，withpityingamazement。
　　TheProphetblushedwithshame。
　　"Ibegyourpardon。Ofcourse——Iunderstand。Praygoon。"
　　"Itmadeforloneliness，sir。"
　　"Naturally。"
　　"Theirhourswerenotourhours。Andthentheprofessionalcolour！
　　MadamesaiditwaslikelivingamongtheSandwichIslanders。Andso，toanextent，itwas。Myfatherhadleftaverytidybitofmoney——averytidybitindeed，andweresolvedtomove。Butwhere？Thatwastheproblem。ForIwasnotasothermen。Icouldnotlivelikethem——intheBerkeleySquare。"
　　Hesmiledwithmournfulsuperiorityandcontinued，——
　　"AtleastIthoughtsothen，andhavedonetillto—day。Prophets——somyfatherbelieved，andsoMadame——mustbeconnectedwiththesuburbsorwithoutlyingdistricts。Theymustnot，indeedtheycannot，beproperlypropheticwithintheradius。Acentralatmospherewouldreducethemtotheleveloftheconjurororthemuscularsuggestionist。MalkieltheFirst，myfather，wasbornhimselfinPeckham，andmetmymotherwhencomingthroughtherye。"
　　Hebrushedasideatearthatflowedatthisalmostrusticrecollection，andcontinued，——
　　"YetMadamewaswishful，andIwaswishfultoo，thatthechildren——ifwehadany——shouldnotgrowupEastern。Itwasanaturalandabeautifuldesire，sir，wasitnot？"
　　"Oh，very，"repliedtheProphet，considerablyconfused。
　　"ThehabitsandmannersoftheEast，yousee，sir，arenotalwaysinstrictaccordancewithpropriety。Arethey？"
　　BeforetheProphethadtimetorealisethatthisquestionwasmerelyrhetorical，hebegan，——
　　"FromwhatProfessorSeligmansaysinhis/TheInnerHistoryofBaghdad/，Ifeelsure——"
　　"NorarethecustomsoftheEastquitewhatmanyaclergymanwouldapproveof，"continuedMalkiel。"YeteventhiswasnotwhatweighedmostwithMadame。"
　　"Whatwasitthen？"inquiredtheProphet，deeplyinterested。
　　"Sir，itwastheEasternlanguage。"
　　"Ah！"
　　"Couldweletourchildrenlearntospeakit？Couldwebeartolaunchtheminlife，handicapped，weigheddownbysuchatongue？Couldwedothis？"
　　AgaintheProphetmistookthenatureofthequestion，andwasledtoreply，——
　　"CertainlyEnglishchildrenspeakingonlyArabicmightwellbeatsomelossinordinaryconver——"
　　"Wecouldnot，sir。Itwasimpossible。SoweresolvedtogotothenorthofLondonandtoavoidWhitechapelatwhatevercost。"
　　"Whitechapel！"almostcriedtheProphet。
　　"Thisdeterminationitwas，sir，thateventuallyledourstepstothebordersoftheRiverMouse。"
　　"Oh，really！"
　　"Youknowit，sir？"
　　"Notpersonally。"
　　"Butbyrepute，ofcourse？"
　　"Nodoubt，nodoubt，"stammeredtheProphet，whohadinfactneverbeforeheardofthiscelebratedflood。
　　"Thatpoorgoverness，sir，lastAugust——yourecollect？"
　　"Ah，indeed！"murmuredtheProphet，atrifleincoherently。
　　"Andthenthemadundertakerintheautumn，"continuedMalkiel，withconsciouspride；"hefloatedpastourverydoor。"
　　"Didhereally？"
　　"Singinghisswansong，nodoubt，poorfeller，asMadamesaidaftershereadaboutitinthepaper。Therewerethegrocer’stwinsaswell，justlately。Buttheywillbefreshinyourmemory。"
　　BeforetheProphethadtimetostatewhetherthiswassoornotMalkielproceeded，——
　　"Well，sir，assoonasMadameandIhadcometotheMouseweresolvedthatwecoulddonobetterthanthat。Itwassalubrious，itwasretired，anditwasN。"
　　"Yousaid——？"
　　"N。，sir。"
　　"Butwhatisen？"
　　"Sir？"
　　TheProphethadgrownveryred，buthewasseizedbythedesperationthatoccasionallyattacksignorance，andrendersit，foramoment，determinedlyexplicit。
　　"Iaskyouwhatdoesenmean？Iam，Ifear，averyill—informedperson，andIreallydon’tknow。"
　　"Thinkofanenvelope，sir，"saidMalkiel，withgentlecommiseration。
　　"Well，areyouthinking？"
　　TheProphetgrewpurple。
　　"Iam——butitisnouse。Besides，whyonearthshouldIthinkofanenvelope？Ibegyoutoexplain。"
　　"North，sir，thenorthernpostaldistrictofthemetropolis。Fairlysimplethat——Ithink，sir。"
　　"N。！"criedtheilluminatedProphet。"Isee。Iwasthinkingofenallthetime。Ibegyourpardon。Pleasegoon。N。——ofcourse！"
　　Malkielconcealedasmile，justsufficientlytomakeitsexistenceforaninstantvitallyprominent，andcontinued，——
　　"BytheMouseweresolvedtobuildadetachedresidencesuchaswouldinfluencesuitablythemindsofthechildren——shouldwehaveany。Forwehadresolved，sir，bythattimethatwithmethe/Almanac/shouldcease。"
　　HereMalkielleanedforwarduponthedealtableandloweredhisvoicetoanimpressivewhisper。
　　"Yes，sir，ithadcometothat。Weallhaveourambitionsandthatwasmine。"
　　"GoodHeavens！"saidtheProphet。"Malkiel’s/Almanac/cease！Butwhy？
　　Suchaveryusefulinstitution！"
　　"Useful！Morethanthat，sir，sublime！There’snothinglikeit。"
　　"Thenwhyletitcease？"
　　"Becausethesocialstatusoftheprophet，sir，isnotagreeabletomyselforMadame。I’vehadenoughofit，sir，already，andI’mbarelyturnedoffifty。Besides，myfatherwouldhavewishedit，Ifeelsure，hadhelivedinthesedays。HadheseenSagittariusLodge，thechildren，andhowMadamecomportsherself，hewouldhaverecognisedthatthefamilywasdestinedtoriseintoahigherspherethanthatoccupiedbyanyprophet，howeverefficient。Besides，Iwillnotdeceiveyou，Ihavemademoney。Inanothertenyears’time，whenIhavelaidbysufficient，Itellyoustraight，sir，thatIshallgooutofprophecy，rightoutofit。"
　　"ThenyourCapricor——thatisyourson——willnotcarryonthe——"
　　"Capricornusaprophet，sir！"criedMalkiel。"NotifMadameandIknowit。No，sir，Capricornusistobeanarchitect。"
　　AsMalkielpronouncedthelastwordsheflunghisblackovercoatwideopenwithanamplegesture，thrustonehandintohisbreast，andassumedthefixedandfar—seeinggazeofamaninacabinetphotograph。
　　Heseemedlosttohissurroundings，andraptbysomegreatvisionofenchantedarchitects，busyindrawingplansofthemagicbuildingsofthefutureages。TheProphetfeltthatitwouldbeimpioustodisturbhim。Malkiel’sreveriewaslong，andindeedthetwoprophetsmightwellhavebeensittinginJellybrand’sparlournow，hadnotaviolentsneezecalledforthepinkassistanceoftheflightofstorks，andbroughtthesneezerdowntothelevelofordinaryhumanity。
　　"Yes，sir——IgiveyoumywordCapricornusistobeanarchitect，"
　　repeatedMalkiel。"Whatdoyousaytothat？"
　　"Isit——isitreallyabetterprofessionthanthatofprophecy？"askedtheProphet，rathernervously。
　　Malkielsmiledmournfully。
　　"Sir，itmaynotbemorelucrative，butitismoreselect。Madamewillnotmixwithprophets，butshehasa’day，’sir，onthebanksoftheMouse，andshehasgatheredaroundheraverypleasantandselectlittlecircle。"
　　"Indeed。"
　　"Yes，sir。Architectsandtheirwives。Youunderstand？"
　　"Quite，"rejoinedtheProphet，"quite。"
　　UnderthemesmericinfluenceofMalkielhebegantofeelasifarchitectsweresomestrangeraceofsacredbeingssetapart，denizensofsomeholyisleorblessednookofmediaevallegend。Wouldheevermeetthem？WouldheeverencounteronerangingunfetteredwhereflowedthewatersoftheRiverMouse？
　　"Theydonotknowwhoweare，sir，"continuedMalkiel，furtively。"Tothemandtothewholeworld——exceptingJellybrand’sandyou——wearetheSagittariusesofSagittariusLodge，peopleatease，sir，livinguponourcompetencebesidetheMouse。Theydonotseethetelescope，sir，inthelockedstudioatthetopofthelodge。Theydonotknowwhysometimes，onMadame’s’Wednesdays，’Iampale——withsittinguponbehalfofthe/Almanac/。ForCapricornus’ssakeandforCorona’sallthisishidfromtheworld。MadameandIarethevictimsofadoublelife。Yes，sir，forthechildren’ssakewehaveneverdaredtoletitbeknownwhatIreallyam。"
　　Suddenlyhebegantogrowexcited。
　　"Andnow，"hecried，"afteralltheseyearsofsecrecy，afteralltheseyearsofavoidingthecentraldistricts——inwhichMadamelongstolive——afteralltheseyearsofseclusionbeyondthebeatevenofthebuses，doyoucomeheretome，andsearchyourselfandsayuponyouroaththataprophetcanliveandbeaprophetintheBerkeleySquare，thathecanreadthestarswithGunter’sjustopposite，ay，andbringoutanalmanacifhelikeswithinashillingfareoftheCircus？Ifthisisso"——hestruckthedealtableviolentlywithhisclenchedfist——"ofwhatusearethesacrificesofmyselfandMadame？OfwhatuseisittoliveunderamodestnamesuchasSagittarius，whenImightbeMalkieltheSecondtothewholeworld？OfwhatusetofleefromW。anddwellperpetuallyinN。？Why，ifwhatyousayistrue，wemightleavetheMouseto—morrowandMadamecouldpopinandoutoftheStoresjustlikeanyladyofpleasure。"
　　AtthethoughtofthissolongforegoneenchantmentMalkiel’semotioncompletelyovercamehim，hisvoicediedaway，overbornebyaviolentfitofchoking，andhesatbackinhiscanechairtremblingineverylimb。TheProphetwasdeeplymovedbyhisemotion，andlongedmostsincerelytoassuageit。Buthisdeepandgrowingconvictionofhisownpowerrenderedhimuselessasacomforter。Hecouldnotlie。Hecouldnotdenythathewasaprophet。Hecouldonlysay，inhisfirmestvoice，——
　　"MalkieltheSecond，bebrave。Youmustseethisthingthrough。"
　　OnhearingtheseoriginalandnoblewordsMalkiellifteduphismarredcountenance。
　　"Iknowit，sir，Iknowit，"heanswered。"Onemoment。ThethoughtofMadame——theStores——I——ofallthatmightperhapshavebeen——"
　　Hechokedagain。TheProphetlookedaway。Astrongman’semotionisalwaysveryscaredandveryterrible。Threeminutessweptby，thentheProphetheardacalmandhollowvoicesay，——
　　"Andnow，sir，tobusiness。"
　　TheProphetlookedup，andperceivedthatMalkiel’sovercoatwastightlybuttonedandthathismouthwastightlysetinanexpressionofindomitable，thoughtragic，resolution。
　　"Whatbusiness？"askedthePropet。
　　"Mine，"repliedMalkiel。"Mine，sir，andyours。Youhavechosentoentermylife。Youcannotdenythat。YoucannotdenythatIsoughttoavoid——Imightevensaytododgeyou。"
　　WiththeremembranceoftherecentcircusperformanceinthelibrarystillstronguponhimtheProphetcouldnot。Hebowedhishead。
　　"Verywell，sir。Youhavechosentoentermylife。Thatacthasgivenmetherighttoenteryours。AmIcorrect？"
　　"Isuppose——Imean——yes，youare，"answeredtheProphet，overwhelmedbythepitilesslogicofhiscompanion，andwonderingwhatwascomingnext。
　　"Ihavebeenforced——IthinkImaysaythat——torevealmyselftoyou，sir。Nothingcaneveralterthat。Nothingcanevertakefromyoutheknowledge——deniedbyMadametotheveryarchitects——ofwhoIreallyam。
　　Youhavetoldme，sir，thatImustseethisthingthrough。Itellyounow，atthistable，inthisparlour，thatIintendtoseeitthrough——
　　andthrough。"
　　AsMalkielsaidthelastwordshegazedattheProphetwitheyesthatseemedsuddenlytohavetakenonthepeculiarpropertiesofthegimlet。
　　TheProphetbegantofeelextremelyuneasy。Buthesaidnothing。Hefeltthattherewasmoretocome。Andhewasright。
　　"Itismyduty，"continuedMalkiel，inaloudervoice，"mysacreddutytoMadame——tosaynothingofCoronaandCapricornus——toprobeyoutothecore"——heretheProphetcouldnotresistastartledmovementofprotest——"andtosearchyoutothequick。"
　　"Oh，really！"criedtheProphet。
　　"ThisdutyIshallcarryoutunflinchingly，"pursuedMalkiel，"atwhatevercosttomyself。Thiswillnotbeourlastinterview。Donotthinkit。"
　　"Iassureyou，"insertedtheProphet，endeavouringvainlytoseematease，"Idonotwishtothinkit。"
　　"Itmatterslittlewhetheryouwishtodosoornot，"continuedMalkiel，withanincreasinglyJuggernautair。"ThesonofMalkieltheFirstisnotamantobetrifledwithordodged。Moreover，muchmorethanthefutureofmyselfandfamilydependsuponwhatyoureallyare。
　　Fromthisdayforthyouwillbeboundupwiththe/Almanac/。"
　　"MercifulHeavens！"ejaculatedtheProphet，unable，intrepidashewas，toavoidrecoilingwhenhefoundhimselfthussuddenlyconfrontedwiththefateofanappendix。
　　"Forwhyshoulditevercease？"proceededMalkiel，withgrowingpassion。"Why——ifaprophetcanlive，asyoudeclare，freelyandopenlyintheBerkeleySquare？Ifthisisso，whyshouldInotremove，alongwithMadameandfamily，fromthebordersoftheMouseandresidehenceforthinacentralsituationsuchasIshouldwishtoresidein？
　　WhyshouldnotCapricornuseventuallysucceedmeinthe/Almanac/asI
　　succeededMalkieltheFirst？Alreadytheboyshowstheleaningsofaprophet。HithertoMadameandIhaveendeavouredtostiflethem，toturntheminanarchitecturaldirection。Youunderstand？"
　　"Iamtryingto，"stammeredtheProphet。
　　"Hithertowehavecorrectedtheboy’stablemannerswhentheyhavebecometoolikethoseoftheaverageprophet——astheyoftenhave——forhithertowehavehadreasontobelievethatallprophets——withtheexceptionofmyself——weredirty，deceitfulandessentiallysuburbanpersons。Butifyouareaprophetwehavebeendeceived。Trustme，sir，Ishallfindspeedymeanstopierceyoutotheverymarrow。"
　　TheProphetbeganmechanicallytofeelforhishat。
　　"Areyoudesirousofanything，sir？"saidMalkiel，sharply。
　　"No，"saidtheProphet，wonderingwhetherthemomenthadarrivedtothrowoffallfurtherpretenceofbraveryandtoshoutboldlyfortheassistanceoftheyounglibrarian。
　　"Thenwhyareyoufeelingabout，sir？Whyareyoufeelingabout？"
　　"WasI？"falteredtheProphet。
　　"Youarelookingforanotherglassofwine，perhaps？"
　　"No，indeed，"saidtheProphet，desperately。"Foranythingbutthat。"
　　ButMalkiel，movedbysomeabruptlyformedresolution，calledsuddenlyinapowerfulvoice，——