the prophet of berkeley square-第39部分

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Madame　began　to　bridle　and　to　look　as　ostentatious　as　a　leviathan。



〃And　if　we　are；　Jupiter！〃　she　said　in　a　voice　that　rivalled　the

footman's〃if　we　are；　we　are　merely　in　our　element。　They　needn't　think

to　come　over　me！〃



〃Hush；　my　love！　Remember　that〃



〃Dr。　Birdie　Soames！〃　interposed　the　vibrant　bass　of　the　footman。



〃The　physiognomy　lady　from　the　Common！〃　said　Mr。　Sagittarius；　on　the

point　of　breaking　down　under　the　emotion　of　the　moment。　〃Scot！　Scot！

Great　Scot！〃



Mrs。　Bridgeman　was　now　completely　surrounded　by　a　heterogeneous　mass　of

very　remarkable…looking　people；　among　whom　were　peculiarly　prominent　an

enormously　broad…shouldered　man；　with　Roman　features　and　his　hair　cut

over　his　brow　in　a　royal　fringe；　a　small　woman　with　a　pointed　red　nose

in　bead　bracelets　and　prune…coloured　muslin；　and　an　elderly　female　with

short　grizzled　hair；　who　wore　a　college　gown　and　a　mortar…board　with　a

scarlet　tassel；　and　who　carried　in　one　hand　a　large　skull　marked　out　in

squares　with　red　ink。　These　were　Verano；　the　Irish　palmist　from　the

Downs；　Mrs。　Eliza　Doubleway；　the　soothsayer　from　Beck；　and　Dr。　Birdie

Soames；　the　physiognomy　lady　from　the　Common。　Immediately　around　these

celebrities　were　grouped　a　very　pale　gentleman　in　a　short　jacket；　who

looked　as　if　he　made　his　money　by　eating　nothing　and　drinking　a　great

deal；　a　plethoric　female　with　a　mundane　face；　in　which　was　set　a　large

and　delicately　distracted　grey　eye；　and　a　gentleman　with　a　jowl；　a　pug

nose；　and　a　large　quantity　of　brass…coloured　hair　about　as　curly　as

hay；　which　fell　down　over　a　low　collar；　round　which　was　negligently

knotted　a　huge　black　tie。　This　trio　comprised　Mr。　Bernard　Wilkins；　the

Prophet　from　the　Rise；　Madame　Charlotte　Humm；　the　crystal…gazer　from

the　Hill；　and　Professor　Elijah　Chapman；　the　nose…reader　from　the　Butts。

No　sooner　was　the　news　of　the　arrival　of　these　great　and　notorious

people　bruited　abroad　through　the　magnificent　saloons　of　Zoological

House　than　Mrs。　Bridgeman's　guests　began　to　flock　around　them　from　all

the　four　quarters　of　the　mansion；　deserting　even　the　neighbourhood　of

the　guitars　and　the　inviting　seclusion　of　the　various　refreshment…

rooms。　From　all　sides　rose　the　hum　of　comment　and　the　murmur　of

speculation。　Pince…nez　were　adjusted；　eyeglasses　screwed　into　eyes；

fingers　pointed；　feet　elevated　upon　uneasy　toes。　Pretty　girls　boldly

trod　upon　the　gowns　of　elderly　matrons　in　the　endeavour　to　draw　near　to

Mrs。　Bridgeman　and　her　group　of　celebrities；　youths　pushed　and　shoved；

chaperons　elbowed；　and　old　gentlemen　darted　from　one　place　to　another

in　wild　endeavours　to　find　an　inlet　through　the　press。　And　amid　this

frantic　scramble　of　the　curious；　the　famous　members　of　the　occult　world

stood；　calmly　conscious　of　their　value　and　in　no　wise　upset　or

discomposed。　Verano　stroked　his　Roman　features；　and　ran　his　large　white

hand　through　his　curly　fringe；　Dr。　Birdie　Soames　tapped　her　skull；　Mrs。

Eliza　Doubleway　played　with　her　bead　bracelets；　Mr。　Bernard　Wilkins　and

Madame　Charlotte　Humm　conversed　together　in　dreamy　murmurs；　while

Professor　Elijah　Chapman　shook　his　brass…coloured　hair　till　it　fell

forward　over　his　variegated　shirt…front；　and　glanced　inquiringly　at　the

multitudes　of　anxious　noses　which　offered　themselves　to　his　inspection

beneath　the　glare　of　the　electric　lights。



Mr。　and　Madame　Sagittarius；　completely　overlooked　in　the　throng；

elbowed；　trampled　upon；　jogged　from　behind　and　prodded　from　before；

gazed　with　a　passion　of　bitter　envy　at　their　worshipped　rivals；　who

were　set　in　the　full　blaze　of　success；　while　they　languished　in　the

outer　darkness　of　anonymous　obscurity。



〃/O　miseris　hominum　men/don't　set　your　feet　on　me；　sir；　if　you

please！〃　cried　Madame。　〃/O　pectorae　caec/ma'am；　I　beg　you　to　take

your　elbow　from　my　throat　this　minute！〃



But　even　her　powerful　and　indignant　organ　was　lost　in　the　hubbub　that

mingled　with　the　wild　music　of　the　guitars；　to　which　was　now　added　the

tinkle　of　bells　and　the　vehement　click　of　a　round　dozen　of　castanets；

marking　the　bull…fighting　rhythm　of　a　new　air　called　〃The　Espada's

Return　to　Madrid。〃



〃Jupiter！〃　she　gurgled。　〃I　shall　be　suff〃



〃Mr。　Amos　Towle！〃　roared　the　footman　savagely。



〃The　great　medium　from　the　Wick！〃



〃Towle　the　seer！〃



〃Amos　Towle；　the　famous　spiritualist！〃



〃Mr。　Towle　who　materialises！〃



〃The　celebrated　Towle！〃



〃The　great　and　only　Towle！〃



〃Oh；　is　it　/the/　Towle？〃



〃I　must　see　Towle！〃



〃Where　is　he？　Oh；　where　is　Towle？〃



〃Towle　who　communicates　with　the　other　world！〃



〃Towle　the　magician！〃



〃Towle　the　hypnotist！〃



〃Towle　the　soothsayer！〃



〃The　magnetic　Towle！〃



〃The　electric　Towle！〃



〃We　mustwe　must　see　Towle！〃



Such　were　a　very　few　of　the　exclamations　that　instantly　burst　forth

upon　the　conclusion　of　the　footman's　announcement。　The　elbowing　and

trampling　became　more　violent　than　ever；　and　Mrs。　Bridgeman　was

forcedfrom　lack　of　roomto　forego　her　society　start；　though　she　was

still　able　to　indulge　in　her　society　smile；　as　she　bowed；　with　almost

swooning　graciousness；　to　a　short；　perspiring；　bald　and　side…whiskered

man　in　greasy　broadcloth；　who　looked　as　if　he　would　have　been　quite　at

home　upon　the　box　of　a　four…wheeled　cab；　as　indeed　he　would；　seeing

that　he　had　driven　a　growler　for　five…and…twenty　years　before

discovering　that　he　was　the　great　and　only　Towle；　medium；　seer；　and

worker…of…miracles…in…chief　to　the　large　and　increasing　crowd　that

lives　the　silly　life。



〃Oh；　Mr。　Towlecharmed；　delighted！〃　cried　Mrs。　Bridgeman。　〃I　was　so

afraidHow　sweet　of　you　to　come　out　all　this　way　from　your　eyrie　at

the　Wick！　You'll　find　many　friendsdear　Madame　Charlottethe

ProfessorMrs。　Elizathey're　all　here。　And　Miss　Minerva；　too！　Your

greatest　admirer　and　disciple！〃



At　this　moment　the　crowd；　wild　in　its　endeavour　to　touch　the　inspired

broadcloth　of　the　great　Towle；　surged　forward；　and　the　Prophet　was

driven　like　a　ram　against　the　left　side　of　his　hostess。



〃I　begyourpard〃　he　gasped；　〃but　could　you　tellmewhere　Miss

Minervervais？　I　specially　want　toto〃



〃I　think　she's　with　Eureka　in　tea…room　number　1；〃　replied　Mrs。

Bridgeman。　〃Oh；　dear！　Near　the　band。　Oh；　dear！　Oh；　my　gown！　Oh！　So

sweet　of　you　to　come；　Mrs。　Lorrimer！　Just　a　few　interesting　people！　Oh；

gracious　mercy！　Oh；　for　goodness'　sake！〃



She　was　thrust　against　a　new　arrival；　and　the　Prophet；　bringing　his

shoulders　vigorously　into　play；　according　to　the　rules　of　Rugby

football；　presently　found　himself　out　in　the　open　and　free　to　wander　in

search　of　Miss　Minerva；　whom　he　was　most　anxious　to　encounter　before

the　arrival　of　Sir　Tiglath　Butt；　which　must　now　be　imminent；　despite

the　marked　disinclination　of　his　horse　to　proceed　at　the　rate　of　more

than　half　a　mile　an　hour。



The　Prophet　abandoned　Mr。　and　Madame　Sagittarius　to　their　fate；

thankful；　indeed；　to　be　rid　for　a　moment　of　their　prophetic

importunity。



Following　the　gasped　directions　of　Mrs。　Bridgeman；　he　made　towards　the

guitars；　threading　a　number　of　drawing…rooms；　and　passing　by　the　doors

of　various　mysterious　chambers　which　were　carefully　curtained　off　in　a

most　secret　manner。　Here　and　there　he　saw　groups　of　peoplemen　in

extraordinary　coats　and　with　touzled　masses　of　hair；　women　in　gowns

made　of　the　cheapest　materials　and　cut　in　the　most　impossible　fashions。

Some　wore　convolvulus　on　their　heads；　ivy…leaves；　trailing　fuchsia；　or

sprigs　of　plants　known　only　to　suburban　haberdashers；　others　appeared

boldly　in　caps　of　the　pork…pie　order；　adorned　with　cherry…coloured

streamers；　clumps　of　feathers　that　had　never　seen　a　bird；　bunches　of

shining　fruits；　or　coins　that　looked　as　if　they　had　just　emerged　from

the　seclusion　of　the　poor…box。　Thread　gloves　abounded；　and　were　mostly

in　what　saleswomen　call　〃the　loud　shades〃bright　scarlet；　marigold

yellow；　grass　green　or　acute　magenta。　Mittens；　too；　were　visible

covered　with　cabalistic　inscriptions　in　glittering　beadwork。　Not　a　few

gentlewomen；　like　Madame；　trod　in　elastic…sided　boots；　and　one　small

but　intrepid　lady　carried　herself　boldly　in　a　cotton　skirt　topped　with

a　tartan　blouse　〃carried　out〃　in　vermilion　and　sulphur　colour；　over

which　was　carelessly　adjusted　a　macintosh　cape　partially　trimmed　with

distressed…looking　swansdown。　Here　and　there　might　be　seen　some　smart

London　woman；　perfectly　dressed　and　glancing　with　amused　amazement　at

the　new　fashions　about　her；　here　and　there　a　well　set…up　man；　with

normal　hair　and　a　tie　that　would　not　have　terrified　Piccadilly。　But　for

the　most　part　Mrs。　Bridgeman's　guests　were　not　quite　usual　in

appearance；　and；　indeed；　were　such　as　the　Prophet　had　never　gazed　upon

before。



Presently　the　uproar　of　the　guitars　grew　more　stentorian　upon　his　ear；

and；　leaving　on　his　left　an　astonishing　chamber　that　contained　from　a

dozen　to　fifteen　small　round　tables；　with　nothing　whatever　upon　them；

the　Prophet　emerged　into　an　inner　hall　where；　in　quite　a　grove　of

shrubs　hung　with　fairy　lights；　twenty　young　ladies；　dressed　from　top　to

toe　in　scarlet；　and　each　wearing　a　large　golden　medal；　were　being　as

Spanish　as　if　they　had　not　been　paid　for　it；　while　twelve　more　whacked

castanets　and　shook　bells　with　a　frenzy　that　was　worth　an　excellent

salary；　the　silly　gentleman　from　Tooting　the　while　blowing　furiously

upon　his　flute；　and　combining　this　intemperate　indulgence　with　an

occasional　assault　upon　a　cottage　piano　that　stood　immediately　before

him；　or　a　wave　of　the　baton　that　asserted　his　right　to　the　position　of

/chef　d'orchestre/。　Immediately　beyond　this　shrine　of　music　the　Prophet

perceived　a　Moorish　nook　containing　a　British　buffet；　and；　in　quite　the

most　Moorish　corner　of　this　nook；　seated　upon　a　divan　that　would　have

been　at　home　in　Marakesh；　he　caught　sight　of　Miss　Minerva　in　company

with　a　thin；　fatigued　and　wispy　lady　in　a　very　long　vermilion　gown；　and

an　extremely　small　gentl