the prophet of berkeley square-第7节
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the deal and ground glass door； and returned to the counter； whistling
in an absent…minded manner； 〃I'm a Happy Millionaire from Colorado。〃
CHAPTER III
THE TWO PROPHETS PARTAKE OF 〃CREAMING FOAM。〃
〃And now； sir；〃 said Malkiel the Second； pointing to a couple of cane
chairs which； with the table； endeavoured； rather unsuccessfully； to
furnish forth the parlour at Jellybrand's； 〃now sir； what do you want
with me？〃
As he spoke he threw his black overcoat wide open； seated himself on
the edge of one of the chairs in a dignified attitude； and crossed his
feetwhich were not innocent of spatsone over the other。
The Prophet was resolved to dare all； and he； therefore； answered
boldly；
〃Malkiel the Second； I wish to speak to you as one prophet to another。〃
At this remark Malkiel started violently； and darted a searching glance
from beneath his blonde eyebrows at Hennessey。
〃Do you live in the Berkeley Square； sir；〃 he said； 〃and claim to be a
prophet？〃
〃I do；〃 said Hennessey； with modest determination。
Malkiel smiled； a long and wreathed smile that was full of luscious
melancholy and tragic sweetness。
〃The assumption seems rather ridiculousforgive me；〃 he exclaimed。
〃The Berkeley Square！ Whatever would Madame say？〃
〃Madame？〃 said the Prophet； inquiringly。
〃Madame Malkiel； or Madame Sagittarius； as she always passes。〃
〃Your wife？〃
〃My honoured lady；〃 said Malkiel； with pride。 〃More to me almost than
any lunar guide or starry monitor。 What； oh； what would she say to a
prophet from the Berkeley Square？〃
He burst into hollow laughter； shaking upon the cane chair till its
very foundations seemed threatened as by an earthquake； and was obliged
to apply the flight of storks to his eyes before he could in any degree
recover his equanimity。 At length he glanced up with tears rolling down
his cheeks。
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 he said。 〃But what can you know of prophecy in such a
fashionable neighbourhood； close to Grosvenor Square and within sight；
as one may say； of Piccadilly？ Oh； dear； oh； dear！〃
〃But really；〃 said the Prophet； who had flushed red； but who still
spoke with pleasant mildness； 〃what influence can neighbourhood have
upon such a superterrestrial matter？〃
〃Did Isaiah reside in the Berkeley Square； sir？〃
〃I fancy not。 Still〃
〃I fancy not； too；〃 rejoined Malkiel。 〃Nor Bernard Wilkins either； or
any prophet that ever I heard of。 Why； even Jesse Jones lives off
Perkin's Road； Wandsworth Common； though he does keep a sitting…room in
Berners Street just to see his clients in； and he is a very low…class
person； even for a prophet。 No； no； sir； Madame is quite right。 She
married me despite the damningyes； I say； sir； the damning fact that
I was a prophet〃 here Malkiel the Second brought down one of the
dogskin gloves with violence upon the rickety parlour table〃but
before ever we went to the Registrar's she made me take a solemn oath。
What was it； do you say？〃
〃Yes； I do；〃 said Hennessey； leaning forward and gazing into Malkiel's
long and excited face round which the heavy mat of pomaded hair
vibrated。
〃It was this； sirto mix with no prophets so long as we both should
live。 Prophets； she truly said； are low…class； even dirty； persons。
Their parties； their 'at homes' are shoddy。 They live in fourth…rate
neighbourhoods。 They burn gas and sit on horsehair。 Only in rare cases
do they have any bathroom in their houses。 Their influence would be bad
for the children when they begin to grow up。 How could Corona make her
/debut/〃Malkiel pronounced it debbew〃in prophetic circles？ How
could she come out in Drakeman's Villas； Tooting； or dance with such
young fellers as frequent Hagglin's Buildings； Clapham Rise？ How could
she do it； sir？〃
〃I don't know； I'm sure；〃 gasped the Prophet。
〃Nor I； sir； nor I；〃 continued Malkiel； with unabated fervour。 〃And
it's the same with Capricornus。 My boy shall not be thrown in with
prophets。 Did Malkiel the First start the /Almanac/ for that？ Did he
foster it till it went from the poor servant girl's attic into the
gilded apartments of the aristocracy and lay even upon Royal tables for
that？ Did he； I say？〃
〃I haven't an idea；〃 said the Prophet。
〃He did not； sir。 And II myself〃he arranged the diamond pin in his
white satin tie with an almost imperial gesture〃have not followed
upon the lines he laid down without imbibing； as I may truly say； the
lofty spirit that guided him； the lofty social spirit； as Madame calls
it。 There have been other prophets； I know。 There are other prophets。 I
do not attempt to deny it。 But where else than here； sir〃the dogskin
glove lay upon the breast of the chocolate brown frock coat〃where
else than here will you find a prophet who hides his identity beneath
an /alias/； who remains； as Madame always says； /perdew/； and who
conducts his profession on honourable and business…like lines？ Am I
dressed like a prophet？〃 He suddenly brought his doubled fist down upon
the Prophet's knee。
〃No；〃 cried Hennessey。 〃Certainly not！〃
〃Why； sir； how can I be when I tell you that Merriman & Saxster of
Regent Street are my tailors； and have been since my first pair of
trouserings？ Do I bear myself prophetically？ I think you will agree
that I do not when you know that I am frequently mistaken for an
outside brokeryes； sir； and that this has even happened upon the pier
at Margate。 You have seen my demeanour at Jellybrand's。 You saw me come
into the library。 You saw my manner with Frederick Smith。 Was it
assuming？ Did I lord it over the lad？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃No。 I might have been anybody； any ordinary person living in Grosvenor
Place； or； like yourself； in the Berkeley Square。 And so it ever is。
Other prophets there arepossibly men of a certain ability even in
that directionbut there is only one Malkiel； only one who attends
strictly to business； who draws a good income from the stars； sir； and
satisfies the public month in； month out； without making a fuss about
it。 Wait a few years； sir； only wait！〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the Prophet。 〃I will。〃
〃Wait till the children are grown up。 Wait till Capricornus has got his
Latin by heart and gone to Oxford。 Then； and only then； you will know
whether Malkiel the Second is the exception to the rule of prophets。
Yes； and Madame shall know it； too。 She trusted me； sir； as only a
woman can。 She knew I was a prophet and had a prophet for a father
before me。 And yet she trusted me。 It was a daring thing to do。 Many
would call it foolhardy。 Wouldn't they； sir？〃
The dogskin glove was raised。 The Prophet hastened to reply；
〃I daresay they would。〃
〃But she was not afraid； and she shall have her reward。 Corona shall
never set foot in Drakeman's Villas； nor breathe the air of Hagglin's。
I must have a glass of water； I must； sir； indeed。〃
He gasped heavily and was about to rise； when the Prophet said：
〃Join me in a glass of wine。〃
〃I should be delighted；〃 Malkiel answered。 〃Delighted； I'm sure； but I
doubt whether Jellybrand's〃
〃Could not Frederick Smith go out and fetch us aa pint bottle of
champagne？〃 said the Prophet； playing a desperate card in the prophetic
game。
An expression almost of joviality overspread the tragic farce of
Malkiel's appearance。
〃We'll see；〃 he answered； opening the deal door。 〃Frederick Smith！〃
〃Here； Mr。 Sagittarius；〃 cried the soprano voice of the young
librarian。
〃Can you leave the library for a moment； Frederick Smith？〃
The Prophet held up a sovereign over Malkiel the Second's narrow
shoulder。
〃Yes； Mr。 Sagittarius； for half a mo！〃
〃Ah！ Where is the nearest champagne； Frederick Smith？〃
〃The nearest〃
〃Champagne； I said； Frederick Smith。〃
〃I daresay I could get a dozen at Gillow's next the rabbit shop；〃
replied the young librarian； thoughtfully。
The Prophet shuddered to the depths of his being； but he was now
embarked upon his enterprise and must crowd all sail。
〃Go to Gillow's；〃 he exclaimed； with an assumption of feverish
geniality； 〃and bring back a couple of rabbitsI mean bottles。 They
must be dry。 You understand？〃
The young librarian looked out of the window。
〃Oh； I'll manage that； sir。 It ain't raining；〃 he replied carelessly。
The Prophet stifled a cry of horror as he pressed the sovereign into
the young librarian's hand。
〃You can keep the change；〃 he whispered； adding in a tremulous voice；
〃Tell metell me franklydo you think in your own mind that there
will be any？〃
〃I don't know about in my own mind；〃 rejoined the young librarian；
drawing a tweed cap from some hidden recess beneath the counter。 〃But
if you only want two bottles I expect there'll be ten bob over。〃
The Prophet turned as pale as ashes and had some difficulty in
sustaining himself to the parlour； where he and Malkiel
