ner's skirt, the flump
of the rabbit-skins as she cast them from her ample shoulders upon the
floor. The Prophet's voice became audible again.

"What do you wish me to do?" he said, with a sort of embittered
courtesy.

"Throw open the window, place yourself before the telescope, and proceed
at once to your investigations," replied the lady.

"I am not in a condition to investigate," said the Prophet. "I am not
indeed. If you will only let me get you a cab, to-morrow night--"

"It is useless to talk, Mr. Vivian," said Madame, very sharply. "The cab
has not yet been made that will convey me to the Mouse to-night."

"But your husband--"

"My husband is a coward, unworthy of such a wife as he possesses. At the
crisis of our fortunes--What's that?"

At this painful moment Malkiel the Second was so overcome by emotion,
that he trembled, and allowed his left foot to rattle slightly on the
sugar basin.

"What was it?" repeated Madame.

"Rats, I have no doubt," answered the Prophet, who had heard nothing. "I
believe that the basements of these old houses are simply--well--simply
permeated with rats."

For a moment Madame blanched, but she was a woman of spirit, and
moreover she was almost intoxicated with ambition. Recognised at last as
a lady of position and importance in one of the mansions of the idiotic
great, she was more anxious than ever to remove forthwith into the
central districts, there to exercise that sway which she had so long
desired. Finding that there exists a world in which prophets--far from
being considered as dirty and deceitful persons--are worshipped and
adored, entertained with Pommery and treated almost as gods, she yearned
to dwell in the midst of it. The peaceful seclusion of the Mouse was
become hateful to her. The architects and their wives began to seem
to her uplifted fancy little better than the circle that frequented
Hagglin's Buildings, or appeared at the paltry entertainments given by
the inhabitants of Drakeman's Villas. She was resolved to soar, and even
rats should not turn her from her passionate purpose. Accordingly she
replied,--

"Rats or no rats, I intend to see this matter out. _Dixisti!_ The night
wanes. Kindly go at once to the telescope."

The Prophet obeyed, first opening the window into the area. The rain
had now cleared off, but the sky was still rather cloudy, and only a few
stars peeped here and there.

"Really," said the Prophet, after applying his weary eye t