the prophet of berkeley square-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



good…sized　passage。　As　he　did　so　he　heard　the　muffled　alto　voice　of　the

eight…day　clock　proclaim　that　it　was　a　quarter…past　eleven。　Feeling

that　he　was　now　upon　the　point　of　breaking　both　the　promises　of　the

damned　fool；　the　Prophet　hastened　along　the　passage；　darted　through　the

first　outlet；　and　found　himself　abruptly　face　to　back　with　what

appeared　at　first　glance　to　be　an　enormously　broad　and　bow…legged

dwarf；　with　a　bald　head　and　a　black　tail　coat；　which；　in　an　attitude　of

savage　curiosity；　was　gazing　through　a　gigantic　instrument；　whose

muzzle　projected　from　an　open　window　into　a　spacious　area。　So　great　was

the　Prophet's　surprise；　so　supreme　the　shock　to　his　whole　nervous

system　occasioned　by　this　unexpected　encounter；　that　he　did　not　utter　a

cry。　His　amazement　carried　him　into　that　terrible　region　which　lies

beyond　the　realms　of　speech。　He　simply　stood　quite　still　and　gazed　at

the　bow…legged　dwarf；　which；　in　its　turn；　continued　to　gaze　savagely

through　the　gigantic　instrument　into　the　area。　Not　for　perhaps　three　or

four　minutes　did　the　Prophet　realise　that　this　dwarf　was　merely　an

ingeniously　shortened　form　of　Mr。　Ferdinand；　who；　with　his　legs　very

wide　apart；　and　making　two　accurate　right　angles　at　their　respective

knee…joints；　his　head　thrown　well　back；　and　his　arms　arranged　in　two

perfect　capital　V's；　with　the　elbows　pointing　directly　at　the　walls　on

either　side　of　him；　had　been　busily　engaged　for　the　last　hour　and　a

quarter　in　trying　to　focus　firstly　the　Lord　Chancellor's　house　on　the

opposite　side　of　the　square；　and　secondly　the　pleasant…looking　second…

cook　in　it。　That　his　chivalrous　efforts　had　not　yet　been　crowned　with

complete　success　will　be　understood　when　we　say　that　he　had　seen　during

his　first　half…hour　of　contemplation　nothing　at　all；　during　his　second

half…hour　the　left…hand　top　star　of　the　Great　Bear；　and　finally　the

fourth　spike　from　the　end　of　the　iron　railing　which　enclosed　the　square

garden；　at　which　he　had　been　gazing　closely　for　precisely　fifteen

minutes　and　a　half　when　the　Prophet　darted　into　the　pantry。



Having　at　length　recovered　from　his　shock　of　surprise　sufficiently　to

realise　that　the　enormous　and　immobile　dwarf　was　Mr。　Ferdinand；　and

that　Mr。　Ferdinand　was　not　yet　aware　of　his　presence；　the　Prophet

resolved　to　beat　a　rapid　and　noiseless　retreat。　He　carried　this　resolve

into　execution　by　turning　sharply　round；　knocking　his　head　against　a

plate　chest；　firing　the　George　the　Third　candlestick　into　the　passage；

and　letting　the　planisphere　go　into　the　china　jar　of　〃Butler's　own

special　pomade〃　which　Mr。　Ferdinand　kept　always　open　for　use　upon　the

pantry　table。



To　say　that　Mr。　Ferdinand　ceased　from　looking　through　the　telescope　for

the　Lord　Chancellor's　second…cook　at　this　juncture　would；　perhaps；　not

convey　quite　a　fair　idea　of　the　activity　which　he　could　on　occasion

display　even　at　his　somewhat　advanced　age。　It　might　be　more　just　to

state　that；　without　wasting　any　precious　time　in　useless　elongation；　he

described　an　exceedingly　rapid　circular　movement；　still　preserving　the

shortened　form　of　himself　which　had　so　deceived　and　startled　his

master；　and　brought　his　eye　from　the　orifice　of　the　telescope　to　a

level　with　the　Prophet's　knees　exactly　at　the　moment　when　the　Prophet

rebounded　from　the　plate　chest　into　the　centre　of　the　apartment。



〃Oh；　is　it　you；　Mr。　Ferdinand？〃　said　the　Prophet；　controlling　every

symptom　of　anguish；　with　the　exception　of　a　rapid　flutter　of　the

eyelids。　〃I　was　looking　forfor　a　bradawl。〃



The　Prophet's　choice　of　this　useful　little　implement　as　the　reason　for

his　presence　in　Mr。　Ferdinand's　special　sanctum　was　prompted　by　the

fact　that；　just　as　he　was　speaking；　he　happened　to　see　a　bradawl　lying

upon　a　neighbouring　knife　cupboard　in　the　company　of　a　corkscrew。



〃And　here；　I　see；　is　just　what　I　want；〃　he　added　calmly。



So　far　he　had　displayed　extraordinary　composure；　but　at　this　point　he

made　a　slight　mistake；　for　he　picked　up　the　corkscrew　and　sauntered

quietly　away　with　it　into　the　darkness；　leaving　Mr。　Ferdinand　still　in

the　attitude　of　a　Toby　jug；　the　planisphere　still　head　downwards　in　the

butler's　own　special　pomade；　and　the　George　the　Third　candlestick

stretched　at　full　length　upon　the　passage　floor。







CHAPTER　X



THE　PROPHET　AND　MALKIEL　THE　SECOND　CONVERSE　BY　TELEGRAM



　〃Hennessey　Vivian；　1000　Berkeley　Square；　W。



　〃Please　wire　result　of　last　night's　observations　from　eleven　till

　　three　inclusive。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Jupiter　Sagittarius；　Sagittarius　Lodge；　Crampton　St。　Peter；　N。



　〃Impossible　wire　result；　will　write　at　length　after　taking　further

　　observations　to…night。Vivian。〃



　〃Certainly　write　at　length；　but　meanwhile　wire　all　important　results

　　in　condensed　form。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Results　not　sufficiently　important　to　wire；　letter　without　fail

　　to…morrow。Vivian。〃



　〃Never　mind　unimportance；　wire　whatever　results　obtained。

　　Sagittarius。〃



　〃On　consideration　think　results　too　important　to　wire；　will　explain

　　by　letter。Vivian。〃



　〃Your　second　and　third　wires　in　direct　contradiction；　kindly

　　reconcile　opposing　statements。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Cannot　reconcile　by　wire；　will　do　so　by　letter。Vivian。〃



　〃Then　meanwhile　request　forecast　of　grandmother　so　far　as　gathered

　　last　night。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Quite　impossible　discuss　grandmother　by　wire。Vivian。〃



　〃Not　at　all；　couch　in　careful　terms；　shall　understand；　no　need　put

　　grandmother's　name。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Quite　impossible；　grandmother　too　sacred　for　treatment　by　wire；

　　long　and　full　letter　to…morrow。Vivian。〃



　〃Absurd！　Call　her　Harry　and　wire　her　future　as　obtained　last　night；

　　shall　understand。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Cannot　possibly　consent　call　grandmother　Harry；　pray　cease；

　　succession　of　telegraph　boys　to　house　attracting　general　attention

　　in　square。Vivian。〃



　〃Must　insist；　then　call　her　Susan　and　wire。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Cannot　possibly　consent　to　call　her　Susan；　discussion　of　such

　　matter　by　wire　not　decent；　regret　must　absolutely　decline。

　　Vivian。〃



　〃Madame　and　self　insulted　by　accusation　not　decent；　demand　

　　explanation　and　apology。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Regret；　no　desire　give　pain　to　lady；　but　this　must　cease；

　　grandmother　and　square　seriously　upset　by　procession　of　telegraph

　　boys。Vivian。〃



　〃Cannot　help　square　and　grandmother；　must　have　last　night's　result

　　to　compare　with　own　observation　of　grandmother　with　crab　and

　　scorpion。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Pray　cease；　would　rather　die　than　discuss　grandmother　with　crab

　　and　scorpion　by　wire。Vivian。〃



　〃Rubbish！　Call　crab　Susan；　scorpion　Jane；　grandmother　Harry；　and

　　wire；　absolutely　insist。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Absolutely　decline　discuss　crab；　scorpion　and　grandmother　by　wire；

　　final。Vivian。



　〃Scandalous！　not　behaviour　of　gentleman；　Madame　cut　to　heart；

　　infamous。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Mater　familiaris　pallidibus　ira。Madame　Sagittarius。〃



　〃If　receive　no　reply　as　to　grandmother　and　crab；　et　cetera；　shall

　　start　at　once　for　Square。Jupiter　and　Madame　Sagittarius。〃



　〃On　no　account　trouble　come　up；　going　out　immediately；　important

　　engagement。Vivian。〃



　〃Madame　putting　on　boots。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Utterly　useless　put　on　boots；　leaving　house。Vivian。〃



　〃Madame　boots　on；　tying　bonnet。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Totally　useless　tie　bonnet；　absolutely　forced　leave　house。

　　Vivian。〃



　〃Madame　in　pelisse；　shall　come　in　wait　till　your　return。

　　Sagittarius。〃



　〃Regret　pelisse；　quite　useless；　out　till　late　evening。Vivian。〃



　〃Shall　stay　till　whatever　hour；　have　on　hat　and　bonnet　now；

　　starting。Jupiter　and　Madame　Sagittarius。〃



　〃For　Heaven's　sake　don't；　will　wire　whatever　you　wish。Vivian。〃



　〃Don't。　Ankles　perhaps　catching；　dangerous　Capricornus。Vivian。〃



　〃Have　you　started？Vivian。〃



　〃Have　not　started；　but　at　threshold　of　door；　wire　full　explanation

　　of　crab　with　grandmother；　et　cetera；　last　night　or　shall　start

　　instanter。Jupiter　and　Madame　Sagittarius。〃



　〃Truth　is　very　little　result　last　night；　did　not　see　crab　with

　　grandmother；　deeply　regret。Vivian。〃



　〃Then　wire　result　of　scorpion　with　grandmother。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Very　sorry　did　not　see　scorpion　with　grandmother。Vivian。〃



　〃Impossible；　believe　stars　out；　clear　sky；　self　and　Madame

　　distinctly　observed　crab　and　scorpion　with　grandmother　for　four

　　hours。Sagittarius。〃



　〃On　honour　did　not　see　crab；　scorpion　or　grandmother。Vivian。〃



　〃Then　has　grandmother　passed　over？Sagittarius。〃



　〃Certainly　not；　but　no　result；　pray　cease　discussion；　grandmother

　　and　square　distracted　by　incessant　uproar　of　boys　at　door。

　　Vivian。〃



　〃Leaving　house；　with　you　as　soon　as　possible。Jupiter　and　Madame

　　Sagittarius。〃



　〃Heaven's　sake　don't；　tell　truth；　did　not　look　through　telescope　at

　　all　last　night。Vivian。〃



　〃What　meaning　of　this　swore　oath　broken；　no　gentleman；　coming　at

　　once　for　explanation。Jupiter　and　Madame　Sagittarius。〃



　〃Stop；　sending　boy　messenger　with　full　explanation；　severe　accident

　　last　night；　injured　head；　so　unable　look　for　crab；　grandmother　and

　　scorpion。Vivian。〃



　〃Astounded；　upset；　Madame　says　not　conduct　gentleman；　might　have

　　seen　crab；　grandmother　and　scorpion　with　injured　head；　mere　excuse

　　caput　mortuus　decrepitum　cancer。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Pray　excuse；　look　to…night　without　fail；　Heaven's　sake　cease

　　writing；　grandmother　and　whole　square　amazement；　confusion；　shall

　　go　mad　if　continues。Vivian。〃



　〃Very　well；　but　insist　on　full　letter；　confidence　in　oath　much

　　shaken；　wires　most　shifty；　gross　neglect　of　crab；　grandmother　and

　　scorpion。Sagittarius。〃



　〃Homo　miserum　sed　magnum　est　veritatus　et　praevalebetur。Madame

　　Sagittarius。〃







CHAPTER　XI



MISS　MINERVA　OPENS　HER　BOOK　OF　REVELATION　IN　A　CAB



〃Assure　the　Lord　Chancellor　that　the　last　boy　has　been