Having uttered herself, Mrs. Fancy, according to her invariable custom when completely terrified, displayed all the semblance of clear-sighted composure and explanatory discrimination.  While Mr. Ferdinand remained by the wall, with his face to it and his large white hands spread out upon his shut eyes, the lady’s maid advanced upon Madame, and, addressing herself apparently to some hidden universe in need of information, remarked in rather a piecing voice,—­

“I say again, as I said afore, the house has been broke into and the robbers are upon us.  I can’t speak different nor mean other.”

On hearing these words Madame’s large and rippling countenance became suffused with indignant scarlet, and a preliminary click rang through the hall.  The Prophet bounded forward.

“Hush, Fancy,” he cried.  “What are you saying?”

“What I mean, Master Hennessey.  The house has been broke—­”

“Hush!  Hush!  This lady and gentleman are—­”

“Two old and valued friends—­” boomed Madame.

“Two old and valued friends of mine.  Mr. Ferdinand!  Mr. Ferdinand, take your face from the wall, if you please.  There is no cause for alarm.  Now, Fancy—­now!”

For Mrs. Fancy had, as usual, broken into tears on learning the reassuring truth, and was now displaying every symptom of distress and enervation.  The Prophet, unable to calm her, was obliged to assist her upstairs and place her upon the landing, where he hurriedly left her uttering broken moans and murmurs, and repeating again and again her statement of affairs and assertion of inability to conceal the revealed obvious.  On his return he found Madame, Mr. Sagittarius and Mr. Ferdinand grouped statuesquely in the hall as if to represent “Perturbation.”

“Mr. Ferdinand,” he said rather severely, “I did not expect this conduct of you, shrinking from guests in this extraordinary manner.  A butler who shows terror at the sight of visitors does not conduce to the popularity of his employers.”

“I beg pardon, sir.  I was not prepared.”

“Please be prepared another time.  You will serve dinner for three to-night, very quietly, in the inner dining-room.  I do not wish Mrs. Merillia to be disturbed in her illness, and—­”

“If you please, sir, Mrs. Merillia feels herself so much better that she is coming down to dinner to-night.”

“Coming down to dinner!” said the Prophet, aghast.

“Yes, sir.  And she has asked in Sir Tiglath Butt and the Lady Julia Postlethwaite to join her.  I was about to show Mrs. Merillia the menu, sir, when—­”

“Good Heavens!  Merciful Powers!” ejaculated the Prophet.

“Sir?”

“What on earth is to be done?” continued the Prophet, lost for the moment to all sense of propriety.

Mr. Ferdinand looked at the old and valued friends.

“I can’t say, sir, I’m sure,” he replied, pursing up his lips.