thy miserable wages! Son of a noble race! thou hast become a slave to
the stranger, and thy toil serves to amass the fortunes which others are
to enjoy! My love for thee has made me suffer martyrdom; but, as God is
my judge, my affection has remained entire,--untouched! May thy soul, O
brother, feel this aspiration of mine even in the isolation where thou
art suffering; and may the consciousness of my love be a balm for thy
misery!"

The poor gentleman was absorbed for some time in painful meditation; but
after a while his dream seemed over, and he betook himself again to
work. He placed all the silver utensils side by side on the table, and,
after carefully counting and examining them, resumed his soliloquy:--

"Six forks! eight spoons! We shall be four at table: it will be
necessary to be careful; else it will easily be seen something is
wanting. I think, however, it will do. I must give very precise
instructions to John's wife, for she is a clever woman, and knows what
she is about!"

As be uttered the last words he replaced the silver in the basket and
locked it in the safe; after which he took the lamp, and, leaving the
saloon on tiptoe, descended through a little door into a large vaulted
cellar. Here he hunted about for a considerable time amid stacks of
empty bottles, and at last succeeded in finding what he was in search
of; but his face became extremely pale as he drew three bottles from the
sand.

"Good heavens! _only three bottles!_" exclaimed he; "three bottles of
_table_-wine! and Monsieur Denecker is such a connoisseur of vintages!
What shall I do if they ask for more when these three bottles are empty?