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Hichens, Robert Smythe, 1864-1950

"The Prophet of Berkeley Square"


My grandmother is very unwell."
"Ankles seems to be a very painful complaint, sir," said Mr.
Sagittarius. "But Madame and self are not in the habit of creating
uproar by our movements."
"No, no. Of course not. Still--on tiptoe if you don't mind."
"I cannot walk on tiptoe," said Madame, in a voice that sounded to
the Prophet terrifically powerful. "The attitude is precarious and
undignified. As the great Juvenile--"
"Yes, yes. Ah! that's it!"
He managed to get his key into the door and very gingerly opened it.
Madame and Mr. Sagittarius stepped into the hall, followed closely
by the Prophet, who was content on conveying them unobserved to the
library.
"This way," he whispered. "This way. Softly! Softly!"
He began to steal, like a shadow, across the hall, and, impressed by his
surreptitious manner, his old and valued friends instinctively followed
his example. All three of them, then, with long steps and theatrical
pauses, were stagily upon the move, when suddenly the door that led to
the servants' quarters swung open and Mrs. Fancy Quinglet debouched into
their midst, succeeded by Mr. Ferdinand, who carried in his hand a menu
card in a silver holder.


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