"By the way," she said, in a very calm voice, "where is dear Mr.
Sagittarius? I haven't seen him yet."
"I'm afraid he's angry with me," said Mrs. Bridgeman, alluding to the
little clergyman. "I really can't think why."
"Sir Tiglath," said Lady Enid, boldly taking the astronomer's arm. "Come
with me. I want you to find Mr. Sagittarius for me. Yes, they do make
rather a noise!"
This was in allusion to the guitars, for the astronomer had now placed
both hands over his ears in the vain endeavour to exclude "The Gipsies."
Deafness, perhaps, rendered him yielding. In any case, he permitted Lady
Enid to detach him from Mrs. Bridgeman and to lead him through the rooms
in search of Mr. Sagittarius.
"Perhaps he's here," said Lady Enid, entering a darkened chamber. "Oh,
no!"
And she hastily moved away, perceiving a large number of devoted
adherents of table-tapping busily engaged, with outspread fingers and
solemn faces, at their intellectual pursuit. Avoiding the archdeacon,
who was now having his nose read by the professor, she conducted the
astronomer, rendered strangely meek by the guitars, into a drawing-room
near the hall, in which only four people remained--Verano and Mrs.
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