, he put an end to
his existence eight months since. After this sad event, I
received a few lines, written by him in desperation before this
awful deed. 'When I should peruse them,' he wrote, 'he should no
longer exist.' He terminated this letter by informing me that he
had not any acknowledgment of the sum which he had placed, in my
name, with M. Jacques Ferrand, as that individual never gave any
receipt, but was honour and piety itself; that, therefore, it
would be sufficient for me to present myself to that gentleman,
and my business would be regularly and satisfactorily adjusted.
As soon as I was able to turn my attention to anything besides
the mournful end of my poor brother, I came to Paris, where I
knew no one, sir, but yourself, and you only by the connection
that had subsisted between yourself and my husband. I have told
you that the sum deposited with M. Jacques Ferrand was my entire
fortune, and that my brother forwarded to me every six months
the interest which arose from that sum. More than a year had
elapsed since the last payment, and, consequently, I went to M.
Jacques Ferrand to ask the amount of him, as I was greatly in
want of it. Scarcely was I in his presence, than, without any
consideration of my grief, he accused my brother of having
borrowed two thousand francs of him, which he had lost by his
death, adding, that not only was suicide a crime before God and
man, but, also, that it was an act of robbery, of which he, M.
Jacques Ferrand, was the victim. I was indignant at such
language, for the remarkable probity of my poor brother was well
known; he had, it is true, unknown to me and his friends, lost
his fortune in hazardous speculations, but he had died with an
unspotted reputation, deeply regretted by all, and not leaving
any debt except to his notary. I replied to M. Ferrand, that I
authorised him at once to take the two thousand francs, which he
claimed from my brother, from the three hundred thousand francs
of mine, which had been deposited with him. At these words, he
looked at me with an air of utter astonishment, and asked me
what three hundred thousand francs I alluded to. 'To those which
my brother placed in your hands eighteen months ago, sir, and of
which I have, till now, received the interest paid by you
through my brother,' I replied, n