Vlierbeck the compliments with which he habitually welcomed his
visitors, the notary confined himself to a few cold words of recognition
and then sat down silently in front of him.

Wounded and humbled by this ungracious reception, poor De Vlierbeck was
seized with a chill and became slightly pale; still, he managed to rally
his nerves, as he remarked, affably,--"Pray excuse me, sir; but, pressed
by imperious necessity, 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