"Up!" said he, after the manner of one who does not wish to commit
himself, like most elevator boys. "But whom do you wish to see?" he
demanded, trying hard to frown and succeeding only in making a
ludicrous exhibition of himself.

Frankly, I did not know, but under the impulse of the moment I handed
out the card which the stranger had thrown to me.

"I forget the gentleman's name," said I, "but here is his card. He
asked me to call."

The elevator boy glanced at it, and his manner immediately changed.

"Oh, indeed. Very well, sir," he said. "I'll take you up right away.
Step lively, please."

I stepped into the elevator, and the lad turned a wheel which set us
upon our upward journey at once.

"I am sorry to have been so rude to you, sir," said the boy. "I
didn't really know you were a friend of his."

"Of whom?" I demanded.

"The old man himself," he replied, with which he handed me back the
card I had given him, upon reading which I ascertained the name of the
individual who had rushed past me so unceremoniously.

The card was this: