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."

"Stop; sending boy messenger with full explanation; severe accident
last night, injured head, so unable look for crab, grandmother and
scorpion.--Vivian."

"Astounded, upset, Madame says not conduct gentleman; might have seen
crab, grandmother and scorpion with injured head; mere excuse--caput
mortuus decrepitum cancer.--Sagittarius."

"Pray excuse; look to-night without fail; Heaven's sake cease writing;
grandmother and whole square amazement, confusion; shall go mad if
continues.--Vivian."

"Very well, but insist on full letter; confidence in oath much
shaken; wires most shifty; gross neglect of crab, grandmother and
scorpion.--Sagittarius."

"Homo miserum sed magnum est veritatus et praevalebetur.--Madame
Sagittarius."

CHAPTER XI

MISS MINERVA OPENS HER BOOK OF REVELATION IN A CAB

"Assure the Lord Chancellor that the last boy has been and gone--gone
away, that is, Mr. Ferdinand, and that I pledge my sacred word not to
have another telegram to-day."

"Yes, sir. His lordship desired that you should be informed that,
according to the law regulating public abominations and intolerable
street noises, you was liable to--"

"I know, I know."

"And that, by the Act dealing with gross offences against the
public order and scandalous crimes against the peace of metropolitan
communities, you was amenable--"

"Exactly. Go to his lordship and swear--"

"I couldn't do that so soon again, sir, really. I swore only as short
ago as yesterday, sir, by your express order, but--"

"I mean asseverate to his lordship that the very last boy has knocked
for the very last time."

"It wasn't so much the knocking, sir, his lordship complained of, as
the boys coming to the door meeting the boys going away from it, and
blocking up the pavement, sir, so that no one could get past and--"

"Yes, yes. Go and asseverate at once, Mr. Ferdinand