the prophet of berkeley square-第40节

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impassioned　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；　praywe　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。〃



So　saying；　he　made　a　sort　of　flank　movement；　so　adroitly　conceived　and

carried　out　that；　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye；　he　had　driven　Sir　Tiglath

to　the　side　of　Madame　and　hustled　Mr。　Sagittarius　into　the　immediate

neighbourhood　of　Mrs。　Merillia。　Nor　had　more　than　two　minutes　elapsed

before　the　whole　party　found　themselvesthey　scarce　knew　howarranged

around　the　dining　table　and　being　served　with　clear　soup　by　Mr。

Ferdinand　and　the　astounded　Gustavus；　whose　naturally　round　eyes　began

to　take　an　almost　oblong　form　as　he　attended　to　the　wants　of　Mrs。

Merillia's　very　unfamiliar　guests；　whose　outlying　demeanour　and

architectural　manners　evidently　filled　him　with　the　most　poignant

dismay。



As　to　Mrs。　Merillia　and　Lady　Julia；　the　foregoing　scene　had　so　reduced

them　that　they　were　almost　betrayed　into　some　hysterical　departure　from

the　rules　of　exquisite　good　breeding　which　they　had　unconsciously

observed　from　the　cradle。　Indeed；　the　latter；　strong　in　the　belief　that

the　terms　outside　broker　and　raving　maniac　were　interchangeable；　twice

dropped　her　spoon　into　her　soup…plate　before　she　could　succeed　in

lifting　it　to　her　mouth；　and　was　unable　to　prevent　herself　from

whispering　to　the　Prophet；



〃Pray；　Mr。　Vivian；　tell　me　the　worstis　he　absolutely　dangerous？〃



〃No；　no；〃　whispered　back　the　Prophet；　reassuringly。　〃It's　all　his

play。〃



〃Play！〃　murmured　Lady　Julia；　glancing　at　Mr。　Sagittarius；　who　was

holding　back　the　right　sleeve　of　Mr。　Ferdinand's　coat　with　his　left

hand　in　order　to　have　the　free　use　of　his　dinner　limb。



〃Yes；〃　whispered　the　Prophet。　〃He's　the　most　harmless；　innocent

creature。　A　child　might　stroke　him。　I　mean　he　wouldn't　hurt　a　child。〃



〃Yes；　but　we　are　not　children；〃　said　Lady　Julia；　still　in　great

apprehension。



Meanwhile　Sir　Tiglath；　concerned　with　his　dinner；　took　no　heed　of　Mr。

Sagittarius　for　the　moment；　and　that　gentleman；　slightly　reassured；

endeavoured　to　make　himself　agreeable　to　Mrs。　Merillia。



〃You　are　very　pleasantly　situated　here；　ma'am；〃　he　began。



Mrs。　Merillia　thought　he　meant　because　she　was　at　his　elbow；　and

answered　politely；



〃Yes；　very　pleasantly　situated。〃



〃It　is　indeed　a　blessing　to　be　within　such　easy　reach　of　the　Stores；〃

added　Mr。　Sagittarius；　finishing　his　soup；　and　permitting　Mr。

Ferdinand's　sleeves　to　flow　down　once　more　over　his　hands。



〃The　Stores！〃　said　Mrs。　Merillia。



〃/O　festum　dies　beatus　illa/！〃　ejaculated　Madame；　assuming　an

expression　of　profound　and　almost　passionate　sentiment。　〃Happy　indeed

the　good　lady　who　dwells　in　the　central　districts！〃



She　permitted　a　gigantic　sigh　to　leave　her　bosom　and　to　wander　freely

among　the　locks　of　those　at　the　table。　Sir　Tiglath；　who；　on　being

assaulted　by　her　learning；　had　shown　momentary　symptoms　of　apoplexy；

now　gave　a　loud　grunt；　while　the　Prophet；　perceiving　that　his

grandmother　and　Lady　Julia　were　quite　unequal　to　the　occasion；　hastily

replied；



〃Yes；　Berkeley　Square　is　very　convenient　in　may　ways。〃



〃Ah！〃　said　Mr。　Sagittarius；　keeping　a　wary　eye　on　Sir　Tiglath　and　re…

addressing　himself　to　Mrs。　Merillia；　〃the　Berkeley　Square。　But　if　you

lived　in　the　one　behind　Kimmins's　Mews；　it　would　be　quite　another　pair

of　boots；　would　it　not；　ma'am？〃



Lady　Julia；　who　was　sitting　next　to　Mr。　Sagittarius；　shifted　her　chair

nearer　to　the　Prophet；　and　whispered；　〃I'm　sure　he　is　dangerous；　Mr。

Vivian！〃　while　Mrs。　Merillia；　in　the　greatest　perplexity；　replied；



〃The　one　behind　Mr。　Kimmins's　Mews？〃



〃Ay；　over　against　Brigwell's　Buildings；　just　beyond　the　Pauper　Lunatic

Asylum。〃



Lady　Julia　turned　pale。



〃I　daresay；〃　answered　Mrs。　Merillia；　bravely。　〃But　I　am　not　acquainted

with　the　neighbourhood　you　mention。〃



〃You　know　the　Mouse？〃



At　this　abrupt　return　to　the　subject　of　mice　Lady　Julia　became　really

terrified。



〃Be　frank　with　me；　Mr。　Vivian；〃　she　whispered　to　the　Prophet；　under

cover　of　boiled　salmon；　〃is　he　a　ratcatcher？〃



〃Good　Heavens；　no！〃　whispered　back　the　Prophet。　〃He'she's　quite　the

contrary。〃



〃But〃



〃What　mouse？〃　said　Mrs。　Merillia；　endeavouring　to　seem　pleasantly　at

ease；　though　she；　too；　was　beginning　to　feel　a　certain　amount　of　alarm

at　these　strange　beings'　persistent　discussion　of　the　inhabitants　of

the　wainscot。　〃Do　you　allude　to　any　special　mouse？〃



〃I　do；　ma'am。　I　allude　to　the　Mouse　that　has　helped　to　make　Madame　and

self　what　we　are。〃



Sir　Tiglath　began　to　roll　about　in　his　chair　preparatory　to　some

deliverance；　and　Mrs。　Merillia；　casting　a　somewhat　agitated　glance　at

her　grandson；　answered；



〃Really。　I　did　not　know　that　anything　so　small　could　have　so　much

influence。〃



〃It　may　be　small；　ma'am；〃　said　Mr。　Sagittarius。　〃But　to　a　sensitive

nature　it　often　seems　gigantic。〃



〃You　mean　at　night；　I　suppose？　Does　it　disturb　you　very　much？〃



〃We　hear　it；　ma'am；　but　it　lulls　us　to　rest。〃



〃Indeed。　That　is　very　fortunate。　I　fear　it　might　keep　me　awake。〃



〃So　we　thought　at　first。　But　now　we　should　miss　it。　Should　we　not；

Sophronia？〃



〃Doubtless；〃　replied　Madame；　arranging　a　napkin　carefully　over　her

fichu；　and　dealing　rigorously　with　some　mayonnaise　sauce。　〃It　has　been

our　perpetual　companion　for　many　years；　/mus　amicus　humano　generi/。〃



Sir　Tiglath　swelled；　and　Mrs。　Merillia　responded；



〃I　see；　a　pet。　Is　it　white？〃



〃No；　ma'am；〃　returned　Mr。　Sagittarius；　〃it　is　a　rich；　chocolate　brown

except　on　wet　days。　Then　it　takes　on　the　hue　of　a　lead　pencil。〃



〃Indeed！〃　said　Mrs。　Merillia；　trying　nobly　to　remain　social。　〃How　very

curious！〃



〃We　worship　it　in　summer；〃　continued　Mr。　Sagittarius。　〃In　the　sultry

season　it　soothes　and　calms　us。〃



〃Then　it　is　quite　tame？〃



〃At　that　time　of　year；　but　in　winter　nights　it　is　sometimes　almost

wild。〃



〃Ah；　I　daresay。　They　often　are；　I　know。〃



〃The　architects　and　their　wives　love　it　as　we　do。〃



〃Do　they？　How　very　fortunate！〃



〃We　should　hate　to　miss　it　even　for　a　moment。〃



〃Oh；　Mr。　Vivian！〃　whispered　Lady　Julia；　〃this　is　dreadful。　〃I'm　almost

sure　he's　brought　it　with　him。〃



〃No；　no。　It's　not　alive。〃



〃A　dead　mouse！〃



〃It's　a　river。〃



〃A　river！　But　he　said　it　was　a　mouse。〃



〃It's　both。　Mr。　Sagittarius；〃　added　the　Prophet；　in　a　loud　and

desperate　tone　of　voice；　〃you'll　find　this　champagne　quite　dry。　You

needn't　be　afraid　of　it。〃



〃Did　you　get　it　from　by　the　rabbit　shop；　sir？〃　asked　Mr。　Sagittarius；

lifting　his　glass。　〃I　ordered　a　dozen　in；　only　the　day　before

yesterday。〃



Lady　Julia　began　to　tremble。



〃I　see；〃　she　whispered　to　the　Prophet。　〃His　mania　is　about　animals。〃



Meanwhile　the　Prophet　had　made　a　warning　face　at　Mr。　Sagittarius；　who

suddenly　remembered　his　danger　and　subsided；　glancing　uneasily　at　Sir

Tiglath；　whose　intention　of　addressing　him　had　been　momentarily

interfered　with　by　a　sweetbread　masked　in　a　puree　of　spinach。



Madame　Sagittarius；　assisted　by　food　and　dry　champagne；　was　nowas　the

Prophet　perceived　with　horrorbeginning　to　feel　quite　at　her　ease。　She

protruded　her　elbows；　sat　more　extensively　in　her　chair；　rolled　her

prominent　eyes　about　the　room　as　one　accustomed　to　her　state；　and　said；

with　condescension；　to　Lady　Julia；



〃Is　your　ladyship　to　make　one　of　the　party　at　the　Zoological　Gardens

to…night？〃



Lady　Julia；　who　now　began　to　suppose　that　Mr。　Sagittarius's　crazy

passion　for　animals　was　shared　by　his　wife；　gasped　and　answered；



〃Are　you　going　to　the　Zoological　Gardens？〃



〃Yes；　to　an　assembly。　It　should　be　very　pleasant。　Do　you　make　one？〃



〃I　regret　that　I　am　not　invited；〃　said　Lady　Julia；　rather　stiffly。



Madame　bridled；　under　the　impression　that　she　was　scoring　off　a　member

of　the　aristocracy。



〃Indeed；〃　she　remarked；　with　a　click。　〃Yet　I　presume　that　your　ladyship

is　not　insensible　to　the　charms　of　rout　and　collation？〃



〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　said　Lady　Julia；　beginning　to　look　like　an　image

made　of　cast　iron。



〃I　imagine　that　the　social　whirl　finds　in　your　ladyship　a　willing

acolyte？〃



〃Oh；　no。　I　go　out　very　little。〃



〃Indeed；〃　said　Madame；　with　some　contempt。　〃Then　you　do　not　frequent

the　Palace？〃



〃The　Palace！　Do　you　mean　the　Crystal　Palace？〃