The Poor Gentleman | Page 3

them, he gave his orders to
his lackey, and, with a farewell bow, walked toward the bridge leading
into the city.
At a solitary spot on the outer rampart Monsieur De Vlierbeck stopped,
looked round as if to see if any one was observing him, dusted his
garments, brushed his hat with a handkerchief, and then passed on
through the Porte Rouge into the city of Antwerp.
As he entered a town where he was likely to find himself constantly an
object of notice, he assumed a lofty carriage and self-satisfied air,
which might have deceived any one into the belief that he was the
happiest man on earth. And yet--alas, poor gentleman!--he was a prey
to the profoundest agony! He was, perhaps, about to suffer
humiliation,--a humiliation that would cut him to the very heart! But
there was a being in the world whom he loved better than his life or
honor,--his only child, his daughter! For her--how frequently had he
already sacrificed his pride, how frequently had he suffered the pangs
of martyrdom! Still, so great a slave was he to this passionate love that
every new endurance, every new trial, raised him in his own estimation
and exalted his pain into something that ennobled and sanctified his
very nature!
His heart beat violently as he entered deeper and deeper into the heart
of the city and approached the house he was about to visit. Soon after
he stopped at a door, and, as he pulled the bell, his hand trembled
violently in spite of extraordinary self-control; but as soon as a servant
answered the summons he became master of himself again.
"Is the notary in?" inquired the old gentleman. The servant replied
affirmatively, and, showing the visitor into a small room, went to
apprize his master.

As soon as Monsieur De Vlierbeck was alone, he put his right foot over
the left to hide the rent in his boot, drew forth the gold snuff-box, and
made ready to take a pinch.
The notary came in. He was a spare, business-looking man, and was
preparing to salute his guest graciously, but no sooner did he perceive
who it was than his face grew dark and assumed that reserved air with
which a cautious man arms himself when he expects a request which he
is predetermined to refuse. 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. Monsieur de