Instead, therefore, of lavishing on Monsieur De 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 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.