Ferdinand saw by the pleasure with which this message was delivered to him, that he was indebted for it to the favourable report of the servant; he therefore accepted the invitation without hesitating, and requested that he would permit his servant to occupy some corner of the room with the present company. This desire was readily accorded to, and he was leaving the kitchen preceded by the servant, when he beheld the figure of an aged man in one corner, whose head was supported by a female, but whether old or young could not be discerned, as she was wrapped up in a large cloak, and her head dress was drawn quite over her face.
Ferdinand stopped:—"Is the man ill?" asked he.
"Very ill indeed," was answered in a low, tremulous voice; "but I believe all will soon be over."
"Good God!" returned he, "is he so reduced as to give room for such a supposi-
