reply,--

"Certainly English children speaking only Arabic might well be at some
loss in ordinary conver--"

"We could not, sir. It was impossible. So we resolved to go to the north
of London and to avoid Whitechapel at whatever cost."

"Whitechapel!" almost cried the Prophet.

"This determination it was, sir, that eventually led our steps to the
borders of the River Mouse."

"Oh, really!"

"You know it, sir?"

"Not personally."

"But by repute, of course?"

"No doubt, no doubt," stammered the Prophet, who had in fact never
before heard of this celebrated flood.

"That poor governess, sir, last August--you recollect?"

"Ah, indeed!" murmured the Prophet, a trifle incoherently.

"And then the mad undertaker in the autumn," continued Malkiel, with
conscious pride; "he floated past our very door."