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〃Here it is then；〃 he answered。 〃I am Barrymore。 〃
POSTSCRIPT ADDED BY FELICIA。
If the last line extracted from my dear father's Diary does not contain explanation enough in itself； I add some sentences from Marmaduke's letter to me； sent from the theater last night。 （N。 B。I leave out the expressions of endearment： they are my own private property。）
。 。 。 〃Just remember how your father talked about theaters and actors； when I was at Cauldkirk； and how you listened in dutiful agreement with him。 Would he have consented to your marriage if he had known that I was one of the 'spouting rogues；' associated with the 'painted Jezebels' of the playhouse？ He would never have consentedand you yourself； my darling； would have trembled at the bare idea of marrying an actor。
〃Have I been guilty of any serious deception？ and have my friends been guilty in helping to keep my secret？ My birth； my name； my surviving relatives； my fortune inherited from my fatherall these important particulars have been truly stated。 The name of Barrymore is nothing but the name that I assumed when I went on the stage。
〃As to what has happened； since our return from Switzerland； I own that I ought to have made my confession to you。 Forgive me if I weakly hesitated。 I was so fond of you； and I so distrusted the Puritanical convictions which your education had rooted in your mind； that I put it off from day to day。 Oh； my angel 。。。。！
〃Yes； I kept the address of my new house a secret from all my friends； knowing they would betray me if they paid us visits。 As for my mysteriously…closed study； it was the place in which I privately rehearsed my new part。 When I left you in the mornings； it was to go to the theater rehearsals。 My evening absences began of course with the first performance。
〃Your father's arrival seriously embarrassed me。 When you （most properly） insisted on my giving up some of my evenings to him； you necessarily made it impossible for me to appear on the stage。 The one excuse I could make to the theater was； that I was too ill to act。 It did certainly occur to me to cut the Gordian knot by owning the truth。 But your father's horror； when you spoke of the newspaper review of the play； and the shame and fear you showed at your own boldness； daunted me once more。
〃The arrival at the theater of my written excuse brought the manageress down upon me； in a state of distraction。 Nobody could supply my place； all the seats were taken； and the Prince was expected。 There was what we call a scene between the poor lady and myself。 I felt I was in the wrong； I saw that the position in which I had impulsively placed myself was unworthy of meand it ended in my doing my duty to the theater and the public。 But for the affair of the bracelet； which obliged me as an honorable man to give my name and address； the manageress would not have discovered me。 She； like every one else； only knew of my address at my bachelor chambers。 How could you be jealous of the old theatrical comrade of my first days on the stage？ Don't you know yet that you are the one woman in the world 。 。 。 。 ？
〃A last word relating to your father； and I have done。
〃Do you remember my leaving you at the telegraph office？ It was to send a message to a friend of mine； an architect in Edinburgh； instructing him to go immediately to Cauldkirk； and provide for the repairs at my expense。 The theater； my dear； more than trebles my paternal income； and I can well afford it。 Will your father refuse to accept a tribute of respect to a Scottish minister； because it is paid out of an actor's pocket？ You shall ask him the question。
〃And； I say； Feliciawill you come and see me act？ I don't expect your father to enter a theater； but； by way of further reconciling him to his son…in…law； suppose you ask him to hear me read the play？〃
MR。 PERCY AND THE PROPHET。
PART 1。THE PREDICTION。
CHAPTER I。
THE QUACK。
THE disasters that follow the hateful offense against Christianity； which men call war； were severely felt in England during the peace that ensued on the overthrow of Napoleon at Waterloo。 With rare exceptions； distress prevailed among all classes of the community。 The starving nation was ripe and ready for a revolutionary rising against its rulers； who had shed the people's blood and wasted the people's substance in a war which had yielded to the popular interests absolutely nothing in return。
Among the unfortunate persons who were driven； during the disastrous early years of this century； to strange shifts and devices to obtain the means of living； was a certain obscure medical man； of French extraction； named Lagarde。 The Doctor （duly qualified to bear the title） was an inhabitant of London； living in one of the narrow streets which connect the great thoroughfare of the Strand with the bank of the Thames。
The method of obtaining employment chosen by poor Lagarde； as the one alternative left in the face of starvation； was； and is still considered by the medical profession to be； the method of a quack。 He advertised in the public journals。
Addressing himself especially to two classes of the community； the Doctor proceeded in these words：
〃I have the honor of inviting to my house； in the first place： Persons afflicted with maladies which ordinary medical practice has failed to cureand； in the second place： Persons interested in investigations； the object of which is to penetrate the secrets of the future。 Of the means by which I endeavor to alleviate suffering and to enlighten doubt； it is impossible to speak intelligibly within the limits of an advertisement。 I can only offer to submit my system to public inquiry； without exacting any preliminary fee from ladies and gentlemen who may honor me with a visit。 Those who see sufficient reason to trust me； after personal experience； will find a money…box fixed on the waiting…room table； into which they can drop their offerings according to their means。 Those whom I am not fortunate enough to satisfy will be pleased to accept the expression of my regret； and will not be expected to give anything。 I shall be found at home every evening between the hours of six and ten。〃
Toward the close of the year 1816 this strange advertisement became a general topic of conversation among educated people in London。 For some weeks the Doctor's invitations were generally acceptedand； all things considered； were not badly remunerated。 A faithful few believed in him； and told wonderful stories of what he had pronounced and prophesied in the sanctuary of his consulting…room。 The majority of his visitors simply viewed him in the light of a public amusement； and wondered why such a gentlemanlike man should have chosen to gain his living by exhibiting himself as a quack。
CHAPTER II。
THE NUMBERS。
ON a raw and snowy evening toward the latter part of January； 1817； a gentleman； walking along the Strand； turned into the street in which Doctor Lagarde lived； and knocked at the physician's door。
He was admitted by an eld erly male servant to a waiting…room on the first floor。 The light of one little lamp； placed on a bracket fixed to the wall； was so obscured by a dark green shade as to make it difficult； if not im