to madness; but he deserved a better fate."

"And now, sir," said Gustave, "I want you to let me know, with the
least amount of details possible, what I can do to assist De Vlierbeck
without wounding his pride. I know the condition of his affairs; for my
uncle told me all about them. Among other debts there was a bond for
four thousand francs, which belongs to the heirs of Hoogebaen: I want
that bond _immediately_, even if I have to pay four times as much as it
is worth."

The notary stared at Gustave without replying.

"You seem disconcerted by my demand," said Gustave, somewhat anxiously.

"Not exactly," returned the notary; "but I do not altogether understand
your emotion, although I fear the news I must impart will affect you
painfully. If my anticipations are correct I have cause to be sorry for
you, sir!"

"Explain yourself," cried Gustave, alarmed; "explain yourself, sir! Has
death been at Grinselhof? Is my last hope destroyed?"

"No, no," replied the notary, quickly; "don't tremble so; they both
live, but they have been stricken by a great misfortune."

"Well? well?" exclaimed Gustave, with questioning eagerness, rising from
his chair.

"Be calm, be calm, sir," said the notary, soothingly; "sit down and
listen; it is not so terrible as you may perhaps think, since fortune
enables you to soften their misery."

"Oh, God be thanked!" cried Gustave. "But let me beg you to hasten your
disclosures, for your slowness racks me!"

"Know, then," continued the notary, "that during your absence the bond
in question fell due. For many months De Vlierbeck made unavailing
efforts to find money to honor it at maturity; but all his property was
mortgaged, and no one would assist him. In order to escape the
mortification of a forced sale, De Vlierbeck offered every thing at
public auction, even down to his furniture and clothes! The sale
produced about enough to pay his debts, and everybody was satisfied by
the honorable conduct of De Vlierbeck, who plunged himself into absolute
beggary to save his name."

"And so he lives in the _chateau_ of his family only as a tenant?"

"No; he has left it."

"And where does he reside, then? I want to see him instantly."

"I do not know."

"How?--you do not know?"

"Nobody knows where he dwells: he left the province without informing
any one of his designs."

"Alas!" cried Gustave, with profound emotion, "and is it so? Shall I be
forced to live longer without them?--with