“Very well.  I’ll give it up.  I promise you.”

Mrs. Merillia clapped her mittens together almost like a girl.

“Thank you, Sir Tiglath,” she cried.  “I knew you would persuade the dear boy.”

The astronomer beamed like the rising sun.

“Let the morning stars—­freed from insult—­sing together!” he roared.

The Prophet glanced towards Lady Enid.  She was looking almost narrow and not at all pleased.  She, and all her family, had a habit of suddenly appearing thinner than usual when they were put out.  This habit had descended to them from a remote Highland ancestor, who had perished of starvation and been very vexed about it.  The Prophet felt sure that she did not applaud his resolution, but he could not discuss the matter with her in public, and she now got up—­looking almost like a skeleton—­and said that she must go.  Sir Tiglath immediately rolled up out of his chair and roared that he would accompany her.

“The old astronomer will protect the injudicious young female,” he exclaimed, “lest she wander forth into accursed places.”

“I’m only going to Hill Street,” said Lady Enid, rather snappishly.  “Come to see me to-morrow at three,” she whispered to the Prophet as she took his hand.  “We must have a talk.  Don’t tell anybody!”

The Prophet nodded surreptitiously.  He felt that she was curious to her finger-tips as he gently pressed them.

When he and his grandmother were alone together he rang the drawing-room bell.  Mr. Ferdinand appeared.

“Mr. Ferdinand,” said the Prophet, “kindly call Gustavus to your aid and take away the telescope.”

“Sir!” said Mr. Ferdinand in great astonishment.

“Take away the telescope.”

“Certainly, sir.  Where shall we place it, sir?”

“Anywhere,” said the Prophet.  “In the pantry—­the square—­in Piccadilly if you like—­it’s all the same to me.”

And, unable to trust himself to say more, he hurried almost tumultuously from the room.

“Here’s a go, Gustavus,” remarked Mr. Ferdinand a moment later as he entered the servants’ hall.

“Where, Mr. Ferdinand?” replied Gustavus, glancing up from a dish of tea and a couple of Worthing shrimps with which he was solacing an idle moment.

“Here, in this mansion, Gustavus.  Me and you’ve got to take the telescope out of the drawing-room, and Master Hennessey says if we wish we can chuck it in Piccadilly.”

The round eyes of Gustavus brightened.

“That is my wish, Mr. Ferdinand,” he exclaimed.  “Here’s a lark!”

He sprang up.  But Mr. Ferdinand checked his very agreeable vivacity.

“I am your head, Gustavus,” he remarked, with severe ambiguity, “and master having also said that, if we wish, we can set the instrument in the butler’s pantry, I have decided that so it shall moreover be.  It will be very useful to us there.”

“Useful, Mr. Ferdinand!  However—?”