Part 52 (1/2)
”The Mouse is delicious in spring.”
There was another dead silence, and Madame, turning with patronising and heavy affability towards Lady Julia, added,--
”Your ladys.h.i.+p doubtless loves the Mouse--_Mus Pulcherrimo_--in spring as I do?”
The Prophet felt as if he were being p.r.i.c.ked by thousands of red-hot needles, and the perspiration burst out in beads upon his forehead.
”I am not specially fond of mice in spring, or indeed at any season,”
replied Lady Julia, with her slight, but very distinct and bell-like, cough.
”I said the Mouse, your ladys.h.i.+p,” returned Madame, feeding upon this t.i.tled acquaintance with her bulging black eyes, and pus.h.i.+ng the kid boots well out from under her brown skirt. ”I observed that the Mouse was peculiarly delicious in the season of love.”
”No mouse attracts me,” said Lady Julia, coughing again and raising her fine eyebrows slightly. ”I should much prefer to pa.s.s the spring without the companions.h.i.+p of any mouse whatever.”
Both Madame and Mr. Sagittarius opened their lips to reply, but before they could eject a single word the door was opened by Mr. Ferdinand, who announced,--
”Sir Tiglath b.u.t.t.”
Mr. Sagittarius started violently and upset a vase of roses, the astronomer rolled into the room with a very red face, and Mr. Ferdinand added,--
”Dinner is served.”
Mrs. Merillia shook hands with Sir Tiglath and glanced despairingly around her. It was sufficiently obvious that she was considering how to arrange the procession to the dining-room.
”Hennessey,” she began, ”will you take Lady Julia? Sir Tiglath, will you”--she paused, but there was no help for it, she was obliged to continue--”take Mrs. Sagittarius? Let me introduce you, Sir Tiglath b.u.t.t--Mrs. Sagittarius. Mr. Sagittarius, will you take--”
”Mr. Sagittarius!” roared Sir Tiglath. ”Where is he?”
That gentleman gathered Mr. Ferdinand's trousers up in both hands and prepared for instantaneous flight.
”Where is he?” bellowed Sir Tiglath, wheeling round with amazing rapidity for so fat a man. ”Ha!”
He had viewed Mr. Sagittarius, who, grasping Mr. Ferdinand's suit in pleats, ducked his head like one wis.h.i.+ng to be beforehand with violence and set the spats towards the door. Sir Tiglath advanced upon him.
”The old astronomer has heard the name of Sagittarius,” he vociferated.
”He has been informed that--”
”It's not true, sir,” cried Mr. Sagittarius, pale with terror. ”It is not true. I deny it. I am an Ameri--I mean I am not the American syndicate--you are in error, in absolute error. I swear it. I take the heavens to witness.”
At this remarkable and comprehensive statement Mrs. Merillia and Lady Julia looked at each other in elegant amazement.
”What do you mean, sir?” exclaimed Sir Tiglath. ”And why do you insult the sacred heavens, you an astronomer!”
”I am not an astronomer,” cried Mr. Sagittarius, cringing in the voluminous waistcoat of Mr. Ferdinand. ”I am an outside broker. I swear it. My dress, my manner proclaim the fact. Sophronia, tell the gentleman that I am an outside broker and that all Margate has recognised me as such.”
”My husband states the fact,” said Madame, in response to this impa.s.sioned appeal. ”My husband brokes outside, and has done for the last twenty years. Collect yourself, Jupiter. Pray do not doff your _toga virilibus_ in the presence of ladies!”
The terror of Mr. Sagittarius was such, however, that it is very doubtful whether he would not have proceeded thus to disrobe had not the Prophet, rendered desperate by the turn of events, abruptly leaped between Sir Tiglath and his old and valued friend and, gathering the outraged Lady Julia under his arm, exclaimed,--
”Pray, pray--we can discuss this matter more comfortably at dinner.
Permit me, Lady Julia. Sir Tiglath, if you will kindly give your arm to Madame Sagittarius. Mr. Sagittarius, my grandmother.”