“Her ladyship can only stay a minute, sir. Mrs. Merillia hopes you can leave your business—I said as you was very busy, sir—and come up to the drawing-room.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll come. Say I’ll come, Mr. Ferdinand.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the door closed the Prophet exclaimed excitedly,—

“I fear I really must—”

“Take down your directions, sir,” broke in Mr. Sagittarius, firmly.

“Very well,” rejoined the Prophet, desperately, seizing his pencil and the account-book. “What are they?”

“You swear to follow them, sir?”

“Yes, yes, anything—anything!”

“Have you a star map?”