Nicholas drew a card from his pocket, and threw it before him.

`There, sir,' said Nicholas; `my business you will guess.'

A momentary expression of astonishment, not unmixed with some confusion, appeared in the face of Sir Mulberry as he read the name; but he subdued it in an instant, and tossing the card to Lord Verisopht, who sat opposite, drew a toothpick from a glass before him, and very leisurely applied it to his mouth.

`Your name and address?' said Nicholas, turning paler as his passion kindled.

I shall give you neither,' replied Sir Mulberry.

`If there is a gentleman in this party,' said Nicholas, looking round and scarcely able to make his white lips form the words, `he will acquaint me with the name and residence of this man.'

There was a dead silence.

`I am the brother of the young lady who has been the subject of conversation here,' said Nicholas. `I denounce this person as a liar, and impeach him as a coward. If he has a friend here, he will save him the disgrace of the paltry attempt to conceal his name -- and utterly useless one -- for I will find it out, nor leave him until I have.'

Sir Mulberry looked at him contemptuously, and, addressing his companions, said --

`Let the fellow talk, I have nothing serious to say to boys of his station; and his pretty sister shall save him a broken head, if he talks till midnight.'

`You are a base and spiritless scoundrel!' said Nicholas, `and shall be proclaimed so to the world. I will know you; I will follow you home if you walk the streets till morning.'

Sir Mulberry's hand involuntarily closed upon the decanter, and he seemed for an instant about to launch it at the head of his challenger. But he only filled his glass, and laughed in derision.

Nicholas sat himself down, directly opposite to the party, and, summoning the waiter, paid his bill.

`Do you know that person's name?' he inquired of the man in an audible voice; pointing out Sir Mulberry as he put the question.

Sir Mulberry laughed again, and the two voices which had always spoken together, echoed the laugh; but rather feebly.

`That gentleman, sir?' replied the waiter, who, no doubt, knew his cue, and answered with just as little respect, and just as much impertinence as he could safely show: `no, sir, I do not, sir.'

`Here, you sir,' cried Sir Mulberry, as the man was retiring; `do you know that person's name?'

`Name, sir? No, sir.'

`Then you'll find it there,' said Sir Mulberry, throwing Nicholas's card towards him; `and when you have made yourself master of it, put that piece of pasteboard in the fire -- do you hear me?'

The man grinned, and, looking doubtfully at Nicholas, compromised the matter by sticking the card in the chimney-glass. Having done this, he retired.

Nicholas folded his arms, and biting his lip, sat perfectly quiet; sufficiently expressing by his manner, however, a firm determination to carry his threat of following Sir Mulberry home, into steady execution.