"He is bringing some bad news; I would rather you heard it from me.

Your father has sold all the timber in your forest at Waignies to speculators, who have resold it to dealers.

The trees are already felled, and the logs are carried away.

Monsieur Claes received three hundred thousand francs in cash as a first instalment of the price, which he has used towards paying his bills in Paris; but to clear off his debts entirely he has been forced to assign a hundred thousand francs of the three hundred thousand still due to him on the purchase-money." Pierquin entered at this moment.
"Ah! my dear cousin," he said, "you are ruined.

I told you how it would be; but you would not listen to me.