"First of all, dear friend, tell me how you are. Set your friend`s mind at rest," said he without altering his tone, beneath the politeness and affected sympathy of which indifference and even irony could be discerned.

"Ascend yonder winding stair," said De Bracy; "it leads to his apartment---Wilt thou not accept my guidance?" he added, in a submissive voice.

Nicholas took the card, and glancing at it involuntarily as he returned the compliment, evinced very great surprise.