"No, no; not at present," replied Andrews, coloring, and with a confusion of manner which surprised me not a little. It flashed across my mind that the boy was dead, and that Andrews, in order not to risk the withdrawal or suspension of the annuity, had concealed the fact from us. "Let me see," I resumed, "we have your present address--Norton Folgate, I think?" "Yes, certainly you have." "I shall very likely call in a day or two to see Mrs. Andrew! and your son." The man smiled in a reassured, half-sardonic manner. "Do," he answered. "Archy is alive, and very well, thank God!" This confidence dispelled the suspicion I had momentarily entertained, and five or six weeks passed away, during which Andrews and his affairs were almost as entirely absent from my thoughts as if no such man existed. About the expiration of that time, Mr. Jesse Andrews unexpectedly revisited the office, and as soon as I was disengaged, was ushered into my private room. He was habited in the deepest mourning, and it naturally struck me that either his wife or son was dead--an impression, however, which a closer examination of his countenance did not confirm, knowing as I did, how affectionate a husband and father he was, with all his faults and follies, reputed to be. He looked flurried, nervous, certainly; but there was no grief, no sorrow in the restless, disturbed glances which he directed to the floor, the ceiling, the window, the fire-place, the chairs, the table--everywhere, in fact, except towards my face. "What is the matter, Mr. Andrews?" I gravely inquired, seeing that he did not appear disposed to open the conversation. "A great calamity, sir--a great calamity," he hurriedly and confusedly answered, his face still persistently averted from me--"has happened! Archy is dead!" "Dead!" I exclaimed, considerably shocked. "God bless me! when did this happen?" "Three weeks ago," was the reply. "He died of cholera." "Of cholera!" This occurred, I should state, in 1830. "Yes: he was very assiduously attended throughout his sufferings, which were protracted and severe, by the eminent Dr. Parkinson, a highly-respectable and skilled practitioner, as you doubtless, sir, are aware." I could not comprehend the man. This dry, unconcerned, business-sort of gabble was not the language of a suddenly-bereaved parent, and one, too, who had lost a considerable annuity by his son's death. What could it mean? I was in truth fairly puzzled. After a considerable interval of silence, which Mr. Andrews, whose eyes continued to wander in every direction except that of mine, showed no inclination to break, I said--"It will be necessary for me to write immediately to your cousin, Mr. Archibald Andrews. I trust, for your sake, the annuity will be continued; but of course, till I hear from him, the half-yearly payments must be suspended." "Certainly, certainly: I naturally expected that would be the case," said Andrews, still in the same quick, hurried tone. "Quite so."