But, as things were going now, he began to feel that if he could hear anything averse to the man he might thus strengthen his hands against him.

On the following day he went into the city, and called on an old friend, a banker,--one whom he had known for nearly half a century, and of whom, therefore, he was not afraid to ask a question.

For Mr.Wharton was a man not prone, in the ordinary intercourse of life, either to ask or to answer questions.

"You don't know anything, do you, of a man named Ferdinand Lopez ?" "I have heard of him.

But why do you ask ?" "Well; I have a reason for asking.