voice. No good, either, I imagine they both of them added to
themselves.

There is an often repeated observation, that people under the pressure
of an immeasurable misery or agony seem to take on a preternaturally
sharp vision for minute details, such as spots in the carpet, and
sprigs in the wall-paper, threads on a sleeve, and the like. Probably
the doctor felt this influence. He had dallied a little, too, with the
crisis; and so did his visitor--from different motives, no doubt; and,
as he sat there, his eye fell on the card that had just been brought
to him.

"I beg your pardon," he said; "but might I ask a question about your
card?"

"Most certainly, doctor: what is it?"

"Why--it's always a liberty to ask questions about a gentleman's name,
and we Scotchmen are particularly sensitive on the point; but I have
always been interested in the general subject of patronomatology."

The other, by a friendly smile and a deprecating wave of the hand,
renewed his welcome to the doctor's question.

"Well, it's this: How did you come to decide upon that form of
name--Mr. Apollo Lyon?"

"Oh! just a little fancy of mine. It's a newly-invented variable card,
I believe they call it. There's a temporary ink arrangement. It struck
me it was liable to abuse in case of an assumption of _aliases_; but
perhaps that's none of my business. You can easily take off the upper
name, and another one comes out underneath. I'm always interested in
inventions. See."

And as the text, "But they have sought out many inventions," passed
through Dr. Hicok's mind, the other drew forth a white handkerchief,
and, rubbing the card in a careless sort of way, laid it down before
the doctor. Perhaps the strain on the poor doctor's nerves was
unsteadying him by this time: he may not have seen right; but he
seemed to see only one name, as if compounded from the former two.

+------------+
| APOLLYON |
+------------+

And it seemed to be in red ink instead of black; and the lines seemed
to creep and throb and glow, as if the red were the red of fire,
instead of vermilion. But red is an extremely trying colour to the
eyes. However, the doctor, startled as he was, thought best not to
raise any further queries, and only said, perhaps with some
difficulty, "Very curious, I'm sure!"

"Well, doctor," said Mr. Lyon, or whatever his name was, "I don't want
to hurry you, but I suppose we might as well have our little business
over?"

"Why, y