exclaimed Malk

d the Prophet, at

e!" ejaculated the young librarian, s

e, though slightly Scottish, mouth, began to behave rather like a stag at bay. She panted,

voice becoming not a little piercing from su

librarian, who had now gained the parlour threshold, and

llow, but again slightly Scottish, voice. "Do

d banged the door on the young librarian. The Prophet

ady hissed ar

ention, and so eloquent was her attitude that the two prophets were infected with her desire. They turned their eyes mechanically towards the deal door and listened too. For a moment there was sile

tered this shop?" said a ve

lied the high soprano of the

ed the first voice. "But answer my question. Have you a

d. But it happened that there existed upon the earth one object, and one object only, towards which he felt a sense of chivalry. This object was Je

our age. There ain't no young females in the library, and if there was I shouldn't trot 'em out

ck, the thump of a falling chair, a bang as of a heavy body encountering firm resistance from some inflexible article of furniture-probably a bookcase-and finally a tremen

the Prophet looked at one anoth

him?" she whispered wit

noise of a torrent

e lady, arranging her dre

assed that very American effort of nature, wavered, faltered to Lodore, died away to a feeble tittup like water dropping from a tap

desert her entirely. That fatal sign in woman, a working throat, swal

iss Minerva?" cried

ps. She feebly sipped, than s

poiso

truer word," said t

the lady, frantically.

om next door to a rabbit shop," answered the Prophet,

ite as chalk, darted to t

she cried. "Get me

ian came forward

a'am. The gentlema

ve me a glass of wa

injured air, proceeded from a positive t

e blue and black all over, to say nothing of the book

ch a moment?" cried the Prophet. "Do

librarian. "Then what does she come to a

er agonised eyes

" she whispered

ards him and lea

aid the Prophet. "Direct me!" h

p," said that worthy, who had suddenly become ex

Kindly unloc

and the Prophet began to move slowly into the street. Ju

oment,

het, firmly. "Not one till t

he got quite out of earshot he caught these fragments of a sha

-probe-quick-search-the very core-hear from me-archit

th a runaway omnibus at the corner of Greek Street, which was eventually resolved by the bursting of a motor car-

inutes later, as she and the Prophet stood together upon the

d a hansom and ha

re you going

d looked

id. "I had an appointment. But really-you see Mr.

y the "creaming foam," and the

th grannie," sa

s at

s twisted

'm so

e esco

I think

?" said the Prophet, in Piccadilly Circus. "I promi

But who

An old friend, no doubt. Probably the C

ll! I feel a lit

ural

ght the roses a

to ask any questions," ob

en thinking it was

not a

dy Enid, "and I don't know

at her and met her

ry gently, thinking of the

t for two minutes,

rth were you closeted in the parlour-at my ti

e? And it was really you who had-had-well,

neither of us nice, but

letters for you,"

r smooth, young, heal

! I'll fetch them

Prophet with obv

tell you," he replie

"But now I'm at a disadvantag

go to Jellybrand's, or why you rushed into th

before Mrs. Me

hat standing on its head. Beside it lay two pieces of a stout and knobbl

avens!"

king stick, examined

I want any tea,

said the Prophet,

round eye of Gustavus, who was waiting by the hall door,

uestions you wanted to ask are being answered. You know I'm Miss Minerv

ightly Scottish, back that she was pouting as she entered the