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"Might I not, Sophronia?" "Oh, but " began the Prophet, very hastily. "The lady has frequently pressed me to accept of her hospitality." "Indeed!" "For years she has been writing to me at Jellybrand's, under my real name of Malkiel the Second, you understand. She addresses me simply as the master." "But do the postal authorities " "Not upon the envelope, sir, not upon the envelope." "I see."
"Yes, I suppose!" said Madame, with a very violent click. "I can hardly say, Sophronia, that, I can't indeed. I have met her, by accident, quite by accident I assure you, once or twice." "Where?" "At Jellybrand's. She goes there to fetch letters on the same day as I do." Madame's very intellectual brow was over-clouded with storm. She turned upon the Prophet. "And what of this person, Mr.
"Well, how is one certain of anything?" said the Prophet, rather feebly. "How are you certain that I'm Miss Minerva Partridge?" "Because you told me so yourself, because I've seen you come into Jellybrand's for your letters, because " "Haven't I seen Malkiel come into Jellybrand's for his?" This unexpected retort threw the Prophet upon his beam ends.
Merillia's presence, for he knew that he was about to see the venerable victim of the young librarian's indignant chivalry, the "old gent" who had come to intimate terms with Jellybrand's bookcase, and who had kicked and knocked at least a pint of paint off Jellybrand's door.
"Malkiel the Second, sir, is my name if it is betrayed by Jellybrand's," said that gentleman with sudden dignity. "There is no need of any mister." "I beg your pardon," said the Prophet, handing his card. "That is my name and address.
"But if you wish him to?" asked the Prophet in blank amazement. "I do." "Why?" "The Miss Minerva part of me desires it." "Indeed." "Yes. He's got to do one or two things for Miss Minerva without knowing that I'm Miss Minerva. That is why I bolted into the parlour yesterday. Just as I was stepping into Jellybrand's I happened to see Sir Tiglath and he happened to think he saw me." "Only to think?"
"Then," exclaimed the Prophet, much agitated, and feeling it incumbent upon him to get rid of Mr. Sagittarius at once lest the curiosity of Lady Enid should increase beyond all measure, and lead to an encounter between the two clients of Jellybrand's, "then kindly give me my directions as briefly as possible, and " There was another tap upon the door.
"My life is double." "Ah!" "But only lately, quite lately." "Never mind that. Oh! How glad I am that you have had the courage too! You will soon get into it, as I did. But you should have all your telegrams and so forth directed to Jellybrand's." "It's too late," replied the Prophet, dejectedly. "Too late. I do wish that horse wouldn't fall down so continually! It's most monotonous."
"And now, sir," said Malkiel the Second, pointing to a couple of cane chairs which, with the table, endeavoured, rather unsuccessfully, to furnish forth the parlour at Jellybrand's, "now sir, what do you want with me?"
"By the way," she said, in her usual tone of breezy common sense, "were you living a double life in the parlour?" "I!" said the Prophet. "Oh, no, not at all. I never do anything of that kind." "Sure?" "Quite certain." "You're not going to?" "Certainly not. Nothing would induce me." She looked at him, as if unconvinced, raising her dark, sensible eyebrows. "All Jellybrand's clients do," she said.
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