At this lady's elbow stood a footman with an
exceedingly powerful bass voice, who shouted the names of approaching
guests in a manner so uncompromising as to be terrific. Each time he so
shouted the stout lady first started and then smiled, the two operations
succeeding one another with almost inconceivable rapidity and violence.
"What name, sir?" asked the footman of the Prophet, bending his powdered
head till it was only about six feet two inches from the floor.
"Mr. Hennessey Vivian," replied the Prophet, hesitating as to what he
should add.
"Mr. Hemmerspeed Vivian!" roared the footman. "What name, Madame?" (to
Madame Sagittarius).
"Mr. and Madame Sagittarius of Sagittarius Lodge, the Mouse!" replied
the lady majestically.
"Mr.--and Madame--Segerteribus--of--Segerteribus--Lodge, the Mouse!"
bawled the footman.
The stout lady, who was Mrs. Vane Bridgeman, started and smiled.
"Delighted to see you, Mr. Segerteribus!" she said to the Prophet.
The Prophet hastened to explain through the uproar of twenty guitars.
"Mr. Vivian is my name. I think Miss Minerva Partridge--"
Mrs. Bridgeman started and smiled.
"Of course," she exclaimed.
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