‘Let me have a word with you, sir,’ said Nicholas.
‘With me, sir?’ retorted Sir Mulberry Hawk, eyeing him in disdainful surprise.
‘I said with you,’ replied Nicholas, speaking with great difficulty, for his passion choked him.
‘A mysterious stranger, upon my soul!’ exclaimed Sir Mulberry, raising his wine-glass to his lips, and looking round upon his friends.
‘Will you step apart with me for a few minutes, or do you refuse?’ said Nicholas sternly.
Sir Mulberry merely paused in the act of drinking, and bade him either name his business or leave the table.
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.