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; "_only_ four months, and then--oh, God!"