y, I have come once more to appeal to your kindness
for a small service."

"What is it you wish of me?" answered the notary, tartly.

"I wish you to find another loan of a thousand _francs_ for me,--or even
less,--secured by a mortgage on my property. I do not want all the money
at once, but I have especial need of two hundred _francs_, which I must
ask the favor of you to lend me to-day. I trust you will not deny me
this trifling loan, which will extricate me from the deepest
embarrassment."

"A thousand _francs_, on mortgage?" growled the notary; "and who, pray,
will guarantee the interest? Your property is already mortgaged for more
than it is worth."

"Oh! you are mistaken, sir," exclaimed Monsieur De Vlierbeck, anxiously.

"Not the least in the world! By order of the persons who have already
accommodated you with money, I caused your property to be appraised at
the very highest rates; and the consequence is that your creditors will
not get back their loans unless it shall sell for an extraordinary
price. Permit me to say, sir, that you have acted very foolishly: had I
been in your place, I would not have sacrificed all my fortune, and my
wife's too, to save a worthless fellow, even though he had been my
brother!"

De Vlierbeck frowned, as a painful recollection shot through his mind,
but said nothing, though his hand grasped the golden snuff-box as if he
would have crushed it.

"By that imprudent act," continued the notary, "you have plunged
yourself and your child into absolute want; for you can no longer
disguise it. For ten years--and God knows at what cost--you have been
able to keep the secret of your ruin; but the inevitable hour is
approaching, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, when you will be forced to
surrender every thing!"

De Vlierbeck riveted a look of doubt and agony on the notary as the
latter continued:--

"I must tell you frankly the condition of your affairs. Monsieur de
Hoogebaen died during his journey in Germany; his heirs found your bond
for four thousand _francs_, and have directed me _not_ to renew it. If
Monsieur Hoogebaen was your friend his heirs certainly are not. During
ten years you have failed to cancel this debt, and have paid two
thousand _francs_ interest; so that, for your own sake, it is time the
transaction should be closed. Four months are still left, Monsieur
Vlierbeck, before the expiration of--"

"_Only_ four months!" interrupted the poor gentleman, in a distressed
tone;