ot comprehending his question.
The notary shrugged his shoulders, smiled disdainfully, as if my
words were not serious, and replied that, so far from depositing
any money with him, my brother had borrowed two thousand francs
from him.

"It is impossible for me to express to you my horror at this
reply. 'What, then, has become of this sum?' I exclaimed. 'My
daughter and myself have no other resource, and, if we are
deprived of that, nothing remains for us but complete
wretchedness. What will become of us?' 'I really don't know,'
replied the notary, coldly. 'It is most probable that your
brother, instead of placing this sum with me, as you say, has
used it in those unfortunate speculations in which, unknown to
any one, he was engaged.' 'It is false, sir!' I exclaimed. 'My
brother was honour itself, and, so far from despoiling me and my
daughter, he would have sacrificed himself for us. He would
never marry, in order that he might leave all he had to my
child.' 'Dare you to assert, madame, that I am capable of
denying a deposit confided in me?' inquired the notary, with
indignation, which seemed so honourable and sincere that I
replied, 'No, certainly not, sir; your reputation for probity is
well known; but yet I can never accuse my brother of so cruel an
abuse of confidence.' 'What are your proofs of this claim?'
inquired M. Ferrand. 'I have none, sir. Eighteen months since,
my brother, who undertook the management of my affairs, wrote to
me, saying, "I have an excellent opportunity of obtaining six
per cent.; send me your power of attorney to sell your stock, and
I will deposit the three hundred thousand francs, which I will
make up, with M. Jacques Ferrand, the notary." I sent the papers
which he asked for to my brother, and a few days afterwards he
informed me that the investment was made by you, and at the end
of six months he remitted to me the interest due.' 'At least,
then, you have some letters on this subject, madame?' 'No, sir;
they were only on family matters, and I did not preserve them.'
'Unfortunately, madame, I cannot do anything in this matter,'
replied the notary. 'If my honesty was not beyond all suspicion,
all attack, I should say to you, the courts of law are open to
you,--attack me; the judges will have to choose between the word
of an honourable m