the prophet of berkeley square-第48部分

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invitation　in　silence；　and　stepped　almost　furtively　into　the　hall；　on

whose　floor　Gustavus　was　still　posed　in　the　conventional　attitude　of

the　Christian　martyr。　Lady　Enid　eagerly　followed；　and　the　Prophet　was

just　about　to　close　the　door；　when　a　dark；　hovering　figure　that　was

pausing　at　a　short　distance　off　upon　the　pavement　attracted　his

attention。　He　stopped　short；　and；　perceiving　that　it　was　a　policeman；

beckoned　to　it。　The　figure　approached。



〃What's　up　now？〃　it　said　familiarly；　emphasising　the　question　with　a

sharp　contraction　of　the　left　eyelid。　〃You're　having　a　nice　game

to…night；　and　no　mistake。〃



〃Game！〃　replied　the　Prophet；　sternly。　〃This　is　no　game。　Stand　there；　by

the　area　gate；　and　if　anyone　should　run　out；　knock　him　down　with　your

truncheon。　Do　you　hear　me？〃



With　these　impressive　words　he　entered　the　house　and　shut　the　door；

leaving　the　policeman　to　whistle　inquiringly　to　the　stars　that　were

watching　over　this　house；　once　peaceful；　but　now　the　abode　of　violence

and　tragedy。



In　the　hall　he　found　Gustavus　still　on　his　knees　between　Lady　Enid　and

Sir　Tiglath。



〃Lady　Enid；〃　he　said；　even　in　this　hour　mindful　of　the　proprieties；

〃you　have　heard　what　this　villain　is　doing　here；　and　must　be　sensible

that　you　can　take　no　part　in　this　search。〃



〃Oh；　but　I　particularly　want〃　began　Lady　Enid；　hastily。



〃Pardon　me；〃　said　the　Prophet；　with　more　firmness　than　Napoleon　ever

showed　to　his　marshals。　〃You　must　retire。　Please　come　this　way。　Mrs。

Fancy　will　look　after　you。〃



〃Oh；　but　really；　Mr。　Vivian；　I〃



〃Kindly　follow　me。〃



Lady　Enid　hesitated　for　a　moment；　but　the　Prophet's　manner　was　too　much

for　her；　and　when　he　stepped；　like　a　clockwork　automaton　with　a　steel

interior；　towards　the　staircase；　she　crept　mildly　in　his　wake。



〃Can't　I　really？〃　she　whispered　in　his　ear。



〃Certainly　not。　If　you　were　a　married　woman；　possibly〃



〃Well；　but　I　am　engaged；〃　she　murmured。



The　Prophet　stopped　short。



〃Engaged！〃　he　said。　〃To　whom？〃



〃Sir　Tiglath。〃



〃Engaged　to　Sir　Tiglath！〃



〃Yes。　He　proposed　to　me　to…night　at　Zoological　House。〃



〃Why？〃



She　might　well　have　resented　the　question；　but　perhaps　she　divined　the

distraught　and　almost　maniacal　condition　of　mind　that　the　Prophet

masked　beneath　his　impassive　demeanour。　At　any　rate　she　answered

frankly；



〃Because　he　didn't　find　out　I'm　Miss　Minerva；　and　in　the　midst　of　Mrs。

Bridgeman's　silly　world　I　stood　right　out　as　the　only　sensible　creature

living。　Isn't　it　fun？〃



〃Fun！〃



〃Yes。　I　always　meant　him　to　propose　to　me。〃



〃Why？〃




〃Because　I　always　thought　it　would　be　supremely　idiotic　of　me　to　accept

him。〃



The　Prophet　felt　that　if　he　listened　to　another　remark　of　such　a　nature

his　brain　would　snap　and　he　would　instantly　be　taken　with　a　tearing　fit

of　hysterics。　He　therefore　turned　round　and　slowly　ascended　to　the

first　floor。



〃Kindly　step　into　the　drawing…room；〃　he　said；　having　first；　by　a　rapid

glance；　assured　himself　that　Malkiel　was　not　changing　Mr。　Ferdinand's

trousers　there。　〃I　will　send　Mrs。　Fancy　to　chaperon　you。〃



Lady　Enid　stepped　in　obediently；　and　the　Prophet；　who　could　distinctly

hear　Mrs。　Fancy　sobbing　on　the　landing　above；　proceeded　thither；　took

her　hand　and　guided　her　down　to　the　drawing…room。



〃Oh；　my　poor；　poor　missis！〃　gulped　the　devoted　creature。　〃Oh；　my〃



〃Precisely；〃　rejoined　the　Prophet；　with　passionless　equanimity。　〃Please

go　in　there　and　remain　to　guard　this　young　lady。〃



He　assisted　Mrs。　Fancy　to　fall　in　a　heap　upon　the　nearest　sociable；　and

then；　still　moving　with　a　species　of　frozen　deliberation；　betook

himself　once　more　to　the　hall。　The　astronomer　and　Gustavus　were

standing　there　in　silence。



〃Sir　Tiglath；〃　said　the　Prophet；　in　a　very　formal　manner；　〃you　can　now

begin　to　search　for　this　ruffian。〃



Sir　Tiglath　cleared　his　throat；　and　continued　to　stand　still。



〃I　hope　you　will　find　him；〃　continued　the　Prophet。



Sir　Tiglath　cleared　his　throat　again　and　added；



〃Why？〃



〃Why？　Because　I　think　it　quite　time　that　he　was　murdered；〃　answered　the

Prophet；　unemotionally。　〃Well！　why　don't　you　search？〃



The　astronomer；　whose　face　began　to　look　less　red　than　usual；　rolled

his　glassy　eyes　round　upon　the　shadowy　hall；　the　dim　staircase　and　the

gloomy…looking　closed　doors　that　confronted　them。



〃Where　is　the　old　astronomer　to　search？〃　he　asked；　in　a　low　voice。

〃Oh…h…h…h！〃



The　final　exclamation　sounded　remarkably　tremulous。



〃Anywhereexcept　in　my　grandmother's　bedroom。　That　of　course　is

sacred。　Well；　why　don't　you　begin？〃



Sir　Tiglath　eyed　the　Prophet　furtively。



〃I'mI'm　going　to；〃　he　murmured　hoarsely。　〃The　old　astronomer　does　not

know　the　meaning　of　the　wordfear。〃



Exactly　as　he　uttered　these　inspiring　words　the　hall　clock　growled；

like　a　very　large　dog；　and　struck　two。　Sir　Tiglath　started　and　caught

hold　of　Gustavus；　who　started　in　his　turn　and　shrank　away。　The　Prophet

alone　stood　up　to　the　clock；　which　finished　its　remark　with　a　click；

and　resumed　its　habitual　occupation　of　ticking。



〃Pray　begin；　Sir　Tiglath；〃　said　the　Prophet。



〃The　old　astronomermust　have　aaacandle。〃



〃Here　is　one；〃　said　the　Prophet；　handing　the　desired　article。



〃A　lighted　candle。〃



〃Why　lighted？　Oh；　so　that　you　can　see　to　murder　him！　Gustavus；　light

the　candle。〃



Gustavus；　who　was　trembling　a　good　deal　more　than　an　autumn　leaf；

complied　after　about　fifteen　unavailing　attempts。



〃There；　Sir　Tiglath；〃　said　the　Prophet。　〃Now　you　can　begin。〃　And　he

seated　himself　upon　a　settee；　leaned　back　and　crossed　his　legs。



〃You　will　not　accompany　the　old　astronomer？　Oh…h…h〃



〃No。　I　will　rest　here。　When　you　have　found　the　ruffian　and　murdered

him；　I　shall　be　glad　to　hear　your　news。〃



And；　so　saying；　the　Prophet　settled　himself　comfortably　with　a　cushion

behind　his　back；　and　calmly　closed　his　eyes。　The　candlestick　clattered

in　Sir　Tiglath's　gouty　hand。　The　Prophet　heard　it；　heard　heavy　feet

shuffling　very　slowly　and　cautiously　over　the　floor　of　the　hall；

finally　heard　the　door　leading　to　the　servants'　quarters　swing　on　its

hinges。　Still　he　did　not　open　his　eyes。　He　felt　that　if　he　were　to　do

so　just　then　he　would　probably　begin　to　shriek；　rave；　foam　at　the

mouth；　and　in　all　known　ways　comport　himself　as　do　the　inhabitants　of

Bedlam。　A　delicate　silence　fell　in　the　hall。　How　long　it　lasted　the

Prophet　never　knew。　It　might　have　been　five　minutes　or　five　years　as

far　as　he　was　concerned。　It　was　broken　at　length　by　the　following

symphony　of　soundsan　elderly　man's　voice　roaring；　a　woman's　voice

uttering　a　considerable　number　of　very　powerful　screams　on　a　rather　low

but　still　resounding　note；　a　loud　thump；　a　crash　of　glass；　a　prodigious

clattering；　as　of　utensils　made　in　some　noisy　material　falling　from　a

height　and　rolling　vigorously　in　innumerable　directions；　two　or　three

bangs　of　doors；　and　the　peculiar　patter　of　rather　large　and　flat　feet；

unaccustomed　to　any　rapid　exercise；　moving　over　boards；　oilcloth　and

carpet。　Then　the　swing　door　sang；　and　the　Prophet；　opening　his　eyes；

perceived　Madame　Malkiel　moving　forward　with　considerable　vivacity；　and

screaming　as　she　moved；　her　bonnet　depending　down　her　back　and　the

rabbit…skins　flowing　from　her　ample　shoulders。　Immediately　behind　her

ran　her　spouse；　holding　in　one　hand　a　silver　pepper　castor；　and　in　the

other　a　small　and　very　beautifully　finished　bronze　teapot　of　the

William　of　Orange　period。　The　worthy　couple　fleeted　by；　and　the　Prophet

turned　his　expressionless　eyes　towards　the　swing　door　expecting

immediately　to　perceive　Sir　Tiglath　Butt　in　valiant　pursuit。　As　no　such

figure　presented　itself；　and　as　the　Malkiels　were　now　beginning　to

mount　the　stairs　with　continually　increasing　velocity；　the　Prophet

slowly　uncrossed　his　legs；　and　was　thinking　of　getting　upon　his　feet

when　there　came　a　loud　knock　upon　the　hall　door。



〃Gustavus！〃　said　the　Prophet；　glancing　round。



He　perceived　the　footman　lying　in　a　dead　faint　near　the　umbrella　stand。



〃Oh！〃　he　said；　speaking　to　himself　aloud。　〃Oh！　Then　I　must　go　myself。〃



Acting　upon　his　conception　of　his　duty；　he　accordingly　walked　to　the

front　door；　opened　it；　and　found　the　policeman　outside　supporting　the

senseless　form　of　Sir　Tiglath　Butt　in　one　hand　and　holding　a　broken

truncheon　in　the　other。



〃Well？〃　said　the　Prophet；　calmly。　〃Well？〃



〃I　knocked　him　down　as　he　was　making　a　bolt；〃　said　the　policeman。



The　Prophet　found　himself　wondering　why　so　industrious　and　even　useful

an　occupation　should　be　interfered　with　in　such　a　manner。　However；　he

only　replied；



〃Indeed！〃



〃Ah；〃　said　the　policeman；　stepping　into　the　hall　and　laying　the

astronomer　out　across　a　chair；　〃what's　up？〃



〃They　are　both　up；〃　answered　the　Prophet；　pointing　with　a　lethargic

finger　towards　the　staircase；　from　which；　at　this　moment；　arose　a

perfect　hubbub　of　voices。



〃Come　on！〃　cried　the　policeman。



〃Why？〃　asked　the　Prophet。



〃Why！　you're　a　nice　un；　you　are！　Why！　And　nab　'em；　of　course！〃



〃You　think　it　would　be　wise　towhat　was　the　wordnab　them？〃　inquired

the　Prophet。　〃You　really　think　so？〃



〃Well；　what　am　I　here　for　then？〃　said　the　policeman；　with　angry　irony。



〃Oh；　if　you　prefer；〃　rejoined　the　Prophet；　civilly。　〃Nab　them　by　all

means。　I　shall　not　prevent　you。〃



The　policeman；　who　was　an　active　and　industrious　fellow　deserving　of

praise；　waited　for　no　further　permission；　but　immediately　darted　up　the

stairs；　and　in　less　than　a　minute　returned　with　Mrs。　Merilliaattired

in　a　black　silk　gown；　a　bonnet；　and　an　Indian　shawl　presented　to　her　on

her　marriage　by　a　very　great　personagein　close　custody。



〃Here's　one　of　'em！〃　he　shouted。　〃Here；　you　lay　hold　of　her　while　I

fetch　the　rest！〃



And　with　these　words　he　thrust　the　Prophet's　grandmother　into　one　of

his　hands；　the　broken　tru