“Regret; no desire give pain to lady, but this must cease; grandmother and square seriously upset by procession of telegraph boys.—­Vivian.”

“Cannot help square and grandmother; must have last night’s result to compare with own observation of grandmother with crab and scorpion.—­Sagittarius.”

“Pray cease; would rather die than discuss grandmother with crab and scorpion by wire.—­Vivian.”

“Rubbish!  Call crab Susan, scorpion Jane, grandmother Harry, and wire; absolutely insist.—­Sagittarius.”

“Absolutely decline discuss crab, scorpion and grandmother by wire; final.—­Vivian.

“Scandalous! not behaviour of gentleman; Madame cut to heart; infamous.—­Sagittarius.”

“Mater familiaris pallidibus ira.—­Madame Sagittarius.”

“If receive no reply as to grandmother and crab, et cetera, shall start at once for Square.—­Jupiter and Madame Sagittarius.”

“On no account trouble come up; going out immediately; important engagement.—­Vivian.”

“Madame putting on boots.—­Sagittarius.”

“Utterly useless put on boots; leaving house.—­Vivian.”

“Madame boots on; tying bonnet.—­Sagittarius.”

“Totally useless tie bonnet; absolutely forced leave house.—­Vivian.”

“Madame in pelisse; shall come in wait till your return.—­Sagittarius.”

“Regret pelisse; quite useless; out till late evening.—­Vivian.”

“Shall stay till whatever hour; have on hat and bonnet now; starting.—­Jupiter and Madame Sagittarius.”

“For Heaven’s sake don’t; will wire whatever you wish.—­Vivian.”

“Don’t.  Ankles perhaps catching; dangerous Capricornus.—­Vivian.”

“Have you started?—­Vivian.”

“Have not started, but at threshold of door; wire full explanation of crab with grandmother, et cetera, last night or shall start instanter.—­Jupiter and Madame Sagittarius.”

“Truth is very little result last night; did not see crab with grandmother; deeply regret.—­Vivian.”

“Then wire result of scorpion with grandmother.—­Sagittarius.”

“Very sorry did not see scorpion with grandmother.—­Vivian.”

“Impossible; believe stars out; clear sky; self and Madame distinctly observed crab and scorpion with grandmother for four hours.—­Sagittarius.”

“On honour did not see crab, scorpion or grandmother.—­Vivian.”

“Then has grandmother passed over?—­Sagittarius.”

“Certainly not, but no result; pray cease discussion, grandmother and square distracted by incessant uproar of boys at door.—­Vivian.”

“Leaving house; with you as soon as possible.—­Jupiter and Madame Sagittarius.”

“Heaven’s sake don’t; tell truth; did not look through telescope at all last night.—­Vivian.”

“What meaning of this swore oath broken; no gentleman; coming at once for explanation.—­Jupiter and Madame Sagittarius.”