airs which, with the table, endeavoured, rather unsuccessfully, to furni

on the edge of one of the chairs in a dignified attitude, and cr

to dare all, and he, th

wish to speak to you as

y, and darted a searching glance from b

ey Square, sir," he said,

nessey, with mod

ed smile that was full of lusciou

s-forgive me," he exclaimed. "The Berk

d the Prophet

Madame Sagittarius,

r wi

almost than any lunar guide or starry monitor. What, oh,

ened as by an earthquake, and was obliged to apply the flight of storks to his eyes before he coul

such a fashionable neighbourhood, close to Grosvenor Square and

who still spoke with pleasant mildness, "what influence c

de in the Berkel

y not.

s Street just to see his clients in, and he is a very low-class person, even for a prophet. No, no, sir, Madame is quite right. She married me despite the damning-yes, I say, sir, the damning fact that I was a prop

gazing into Malkiel's long and excited face rou

urhoods. They burn gas and sit on horsehair. Only in rare cases do they have any bathroom in their houses. Their influence would be bad for the children when they begin to grow up. How could Corona make her debut

I'm sure," gasp

thrown in with prophets. Did Malkiel the First start the Almanac for that? Did he foster it till it went from the poor s

n idea," sai

, as Madame calls it. There have been other prophets, I know. There are other prophets. I do not attempt to deny it. But where else than here, sir"-the dogskin glove lay upon the breast of the chocolate brown frock coat-"where else than here will you find a p

ennessey. "Ce

ically? I think you will agree that I do not when you know that I am frequently mistaken for an outside broker-yes, sir, and that this has even happened upon the pier at M

ainly

hets there are-possibly men of a certain ability even in that direction-but there is only one Malkiel, only one who attends strictly to business, who d

said the Prop

kiel the Second is the exception to the rule of prophets. Yes, and Madame shall know it, too. She trusted me, sir, as only a woman can. She knew I was a

s raised. The Prophe

say the

shall never set foot in Drakeman's Villas, nor breathe the air

was about to rise, w

in a glas

answered. "Delighted, I'm sure, b

a-a pint bottle of champagne?" said the Prophet

ality overspread the tragic

ed, opening the deal d

cried the soprano voice

library for a momen

vereign over Malkiel the

gittarius, f

nearest champagne,

nea

I said, Fred

llow's next the rabbit shop," replie

his being, but he was now embarked upon

feverish geniality, "and bring back a couple of rabb

rian looked out

sir. It ain't raining,"

ror as he pressed the sovereign

n a tremulous voice, "Tell me-tell me frankly-do

drawing a tweed cap from some hidden recess beneath the counter. "B

he and Malkiel the Second sat down in silence to await the young librarian's return. Frederick Smith cam

o the Prophet as he placed them upon the table. "I got the '

pour its contents into the two tumblers of thick and rather dusty glass that Jellybrand's kept for its moments of convivial

o the Prophet, who, with a tremb

id the Prophet, s

l the Second in a forma

the Prophet's reply to give the signal for

he Prophet in a

ties, he heard Malkiel the Second s

Frederick Smith, and remember that Miss Minerva is on no account to be

ntly taken by the young librarian as a passionate gesture of dismissal. F

said Malkiel the Second, courteously.

ung, and with so many plans unfulfilled, but he felt that it was useless

ir, I am al

farcical eyes of Malkiel framed in the matted, curling hair. Then all was not over yet. There was something still in store for him. He

ou," he began, "abou

iled with

" he ejaculated. "The Berkeley Squa

the Prophet with more composure and growing earn

suppose," remarked

you kno

cy. Capricornus used to tell Madame what the weather'd b

r less like Isaiah, but he cont

resay I should have thought

inks their first baby a littl

the question for a mo

s you'r

lgently. "Well, sir, what was your n

eaming foam" had rendered him desperate, or he was to some extent steeled against the satire by the aw

keley Square I had a relati

e's are all in Brompton Cemetery. Well, sir, you'd got an

naturally

sed over. Very natural too, sir. The num

oint the Prop

, Malkiel the Second, she did nothing of the kind. What

greatly

f wine, sir. You ne

grasping the edge of the table for support

Malkiel, with unaffected sympathy. "I understand the blow.

oint the Prop

n," he cried. "U

nd drew himself

remarked, pursing up his lengthy mou

perceived

e exclaimed. "I

ined Malkiel, with icy formalit

n. My beloved grandmother still lives

very re

I thought I would cast he

d Malkiel, with quiet

rophet, with sudd

s of a thoughtful father gazing upon the quain

prefer it?" he rejo

, either by the "creaming foam

they are looked at from Berkeley Square or from-from-or from"-he sought passion

d of the Butts," said Malkiel, serenely. "But pray proceed, sir. I am all atte

tattered self-control still clung to him, and he put it

y discovered that she was going to have an accident while on an e

se of a lady who was an honoured grandmo

ecovering his composure as he approached his coup, "

in the square, si

cried the Prophet with

ect hatred of the admirable neighbo

k for inform

e square certainly, and on the ver

ther glass of champagne, drank it slowly in sips, and when the glass was

ed at length, in a muffled voice o

d by the circular movement of the yellow dogskin finger, an

rophet, drawing his cane

se pupil seemed suddenly dilated to a most preternatura

out?" murmure

s matted head in his hands a

re he raised his head, and raked his companion with a glance that was almo