Part 50 (1/2)

”This is a trap!” he stammered. ”This is a rat-trap. This was planned.”

”Really”--began the Prophet.

But Mr. Sagittarius did not heed the exclamation. Trembling very violently, he continued,--

”Sophy, my darling, you are in danger. Let us fly!”

And, clutching his wife by the arm, to the Prophet's unspeakable delight he endeavoured to lead, or rather to drag her to the door. But Madame now showed the metal she was made of.

”Jupiter,” she exclaimed, in her deepest note, ”if you are a Prophet you can surely at moments be also a man. Where is your _toga virilibus_?”

”I don't know, my love, I'm sure. Don't let us lose a moment. Come, my angel!”

”I shall not come,” retorted Madame, whose leaping ambition had been fired by the sound of t.i.tled names. ”The gentleman believes you to be an American syndicate.”

”I know, my blessing, I know. But--”

”Very well. If you don't behave like one he will never suspect you.”

The Prophet saw his chance slipping from him and hastened to interpose.

”He might divine the truth,” he said. ”One can never--”

But at this moment he was interrupted by Mr. Ferdinand who abruptly opened the door and observed,--

”If you please, sir, Mrs. Merillia has sent down orders that the police are to be fetched at once.”

Mr. Sagittarius, now thoroughly unnerved, turned from white to grey.

”The police!” he vociferated. ”Sophy, my angel, let us fly. This is no place for you!”

”The police!” cried the Prophet. ”Why?”

”I believe it's Mrs. Fancy's doing, sir. If you would go to Mrs.

Merillia, sir, I think--”

The Prophet rushed from the room and hastened upstairs four steps at a time. He found his beloved grandmother in a state of grave agitation, and Mrs. Fancy, in floods of tears, reiterating her statement that there were robbers in the house.

”Oh, Hennessey!” cried Mrs. Merillia, on his entrance, ”thank G.o.d that you are come. There are burglars in the house. Fancy has just encountered them in the hall. Go for the police, my dearest boy. Don't lose a moment.”

”My dear grannie, they're not burglars.”

”I can't speak different, Master Hennessey, nor--”

”Then who are they, Hennessey? Fancy declares--”

”They are two--two--well, two old and valued friends of mine.”

”Old and valued friends of ours!”