Ferdinand's
trousers there. "I will send Mrs. Fancy to chaperon you."
Lady Enid stepped in obediently, and the Prophet, who could distinctly
hear Mrs. Fancy sobbing on the landing above, proceeded thither, took
her hand and guided her down to the drawing-room.
"Oh, my poor, poor missis!" gulped the devoted creature. "Oh, my--"
"Precisely," rejoined the Prophet, with passionless equanimity. "Please
go in there and remain to guard this young lady."
He assisted Mrs. Fancy to fall in a heap upon the nearest sociable, and
then, still moving with a species of frozen deliberation, betook himself
once more to the hall. The astronomer and Gustavus were standing there
in silence.
"Sir Tiglath," said the Prophet, in a very formal manner, "you can now
begin to search for this ruffian."
Sir Tiglath cleared his throat, and continued to stand still.
"I hope you will find him," continued the Prophet.
Sir Tiglath cleared his throat again and added,--
"Why?"
"Why? Because I think it quite time that he was murdered," answered the
Prophet, unemotionally. "Well! why don't you search?"
The astronomer, whose face began to look less red than usual, rolled
his glassy eyes round upon the shadowy hall, the dim staircase and the
gloomy-looking closed doors that confronted them.
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