Meantime Emmanuel went to meet the old man and prepare him for the arrival of his daughter, despatching a servant to notify Monsieur and Madame Pierquin.
When the door was opened, Marguerite went directly to the parlor.

Horror overcame her and she trembled when she saw the walls as bare as if a fire had swept over them.

The glorious carved panellings of Van Huysum and the portrait of the great Claes had been sold.

The dining-room was empty: there was nothing in it but two straw chairs and a common deal table, on which Marguerite, terrified, saw two plates, two bowls, two forks and spoons, and the remains of a salt herring which Claes and his servant had evidently just eaten.

In a moment she had flown through her father's portion of the house, every room of which exhibited the same desolation as the parlor and dining-room.