"What! Mr. Vivian!" began the lady.
"Hush!" said the Prophet, "for mercy's sake--hush!"
And, acting upon the impulse of the moment, he suddenly seized Madame by
the hand, and hurried her through the swinging door into the servants'
hall.
"Here's a go," murmured Gustavus in the greatest trepidation. "If they
don't find the thin party I'm a josser."
Meanwhile the Prophet and Madame were standing face to face before the
what-not of Gustavus.
"My grandmother is awake--that is asleep," said the Prophet. "We must
not wake her on any account."
"Oh," returned Madame, with a toss of her head, "your grandmother seems
to be a very fidgety old lady, I'm sure--although you do tell a parcel
of lies about her."
"Lies!" said the Prophet, with some dignity.
"Yes--lies. She don't wear long clothes--"
"I beg your pardon!"
"She do not. She don't wear her hair down. She don't put her lips to the
bottle. She don't. Where is Mr. Sagi--where is Malkiel the Second?"
"I have no idea. And now, Madame, I regret that I must conduct you to
your carriage. The hour is late, my grandmother is seriously indisposed,
and I myself need rest."
"Well, then, you can't have it," retorted the lady with authoritative
spitefulness.
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