“Certainly, my love,” replied Mr. Sagittarius, darting eagerly from the apartment to fetch the rabbit-skins.

“Lady Julia, I hope you will forgive us,” said the Prophet, with passionate contrition.  “If I had had the slightest idea that we should have the pleasure of seeing you to-night, of course I should have given up this engagement.  But it is such an old one—­settled months ago—­and I have promised Mrs. Bridgeman so faithfully that—­”

“The old astronomer will go with you,” cried Sir Tiglath at this moment, swallowing his glass of port at a gulp, and rolling out of his chair.

The Prophet turned cold, thinking of Miss Minerva, who would be present at Mrs. Bridgeman’s living her secret double life.  It was imperative to prevent the astronomer from accompanying them.

“I did not think you knew Mrs. Bridgeman, Sir Tiglath,” the Prophet began, while Mrs. Merillia and Lady Julia stood blankly near the door, trying to look calm and dignified while everyone was ardently preparing to desert them.

“The old astronomer must know her before the evening is one hour more advanced.  He must question her regarding the holy stars.  He must examine her and this Sagittarius, who claims to be an outside broker and yet to have discovered oxygen in the fixed inhabitants of the sacred heavens.  My cloak!”

The last words were bellowed at Gustavus, who rushed forward with Sir Tiglath’s Inverness.

The Prophet lowed his head, and metaphorically, threw up the sponge.

“Lady Julia,” said Mrs. Merillia, in a soft voice that slightly trembled, “let us go upstairs.”

The two old ladies bowed with tearful dignity, and retired with a sort of gentle majesty that cut the Prophet to the heart.

“One moment, if you please!” he said to his guests.

And he darted out of the room and leaped up the stairs.  He found Mrs. Merillia and Lady Julia just about to dispose themselves side by side upon a sofa near the fire.  They turned and looked at him with reproachful doves’ eyes.

“Grannie—­Lady Julia!” he exclaimed, “I implore your forgiveness.  Pardon me!  Appearances are against me, I know.  But some day you may understand how I am placed.  My position is—­my—­my situation—­I—­you—­do not wholly condemn me!  Wait—­wait a few days, I implore you!”

He rushed out of the room.

The two old ladies seated themselves upon the sofa, and tremblingly spread abroad their damask skirts.  They looked at each other in silence, shaking their elegant heads.  Then Mrs. Merillia said, in a fluttering voice,—­

“Oh, Julia, you were a lady in waiting to Her Majesty, you were kissed by the great Duke—­tell me—­tell me what it all means!”

“Victoria,” replied Lady Julia, “it means that your grandson has fallen into the clutches of a dangerous and determined ratcatcher.”

And then the two old ladies mingled their damask skirts and their lace caps and wept.