“I thought it might be of use there, sir,” continued Mr. Ferdinand, in some confusion, which, however, was not noticed by the Prophet. “Of great use to—to Gustavus and me in—in our duties, sir.”
“Quite so, quite so,” returned the Prophet, abstractedly.
“Did you wish it to be taken to the drawing-room again, sir?”
The Prophet started.
“Certainly not,” he said. “On no account. As you very rightly say—a butler’s pantry is the place for a telescope. It can be of great service there.”
His fervour surprised Mr. Ferdinand, who began to wonder whether, by any chance, his master knew of the Lord Chancellor’s agreeable-looking second-cook. After pausing a moment respectfully, Mr. Ferdinand was about to decamp when the Prophet checked him with a gesture.
“One moment, Mr. Ferdinand!”
“Sir?”
“One moment!”
Mr. Ferdinand stood still. The Prophet cleared his throat, arranged his tie, and then said, with an air of very elaborate nonchalance,—