uously; "and so it is an _alms_ you ask of me?"

Poor De Vlierbeck trembled on his chair and became pale as ashes; his
eyes flashed wildly and his brow knotted with frowns. Yet he quickly
curbed the unwonted agitation, bowed his head, and sighed, resignedly,
"ALMS! Alas! so be it! let me drink the very dregs of this bitter cup:
_it is for my child_!"

The notary went to a drawer and took from it some five-franc-pieces,
which he offered to his visitor. It is difficult to say whether the poor
gentleman was wounded by the actual receipt of charity, or whether the
sum was too small to be useful; but, without touching the money, he
glanced angrily at the silver and fell back in his chair, covering his
face with his hands.

Just at this moment a servant entered, announcing another visitor; and,
as soon as the lackey left the apartment, Monsieur De Vlierbeck sprang
from his chair, dashing away the tears that had gathered in his eyes.
The notary pointed to the money, which he laid on the corner of the
table; but the mortified guest turned away his head with a gesture of
repugnant refusal.

"Pardon my boldness, sir," said he, "but I have now only one favor to
ask of you"

"And it is--?"

"That you will keep my secret for my daughter's sake."

'Oh, as to that, make yourself easy. You know me well enough to be
aware of my discretion. Do you decline this trifling aid?"

"Thanks! thanks!" cried the gentleman, pushing away the notary's hand;
and, trembling as if seized by a sudden chill, he rushed from the room
and the house without waiting for the servant to open the door.

Utterly overcome by the terrible blow to his hopes, beside himself with
mortification, with his head hanging on his bosom and his eyes bent
staringly on the ground, the poor fellow ran about the streets for a
considerable length of time without knowing what he was about or whither
he was going. At length the stern conviction of want and duty partially
aroused him from his feverish dream, and he walked on rapidly in the
direction of the gate of Borgenhout, till he found himself entirely
alone among the fortifications.

He had no sooner reached this solitary quarter than a terrible conflict
seemed to begin within him; his lips quivered and muttered incoherently,
while his face exhibited a thousand different expressions of suffering,
shame, and hope. After a while he drew forth from his pocket the golden
snuff-box, looked long and sadly on the armorial e