Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him from Italy reached the village post-office. The carrier inquired of Farmer John where the old of Grinselhof had his residence; but neither from him, the , nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat. The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except the peasant, who every market-day the country-folks from every quarter with questions about his old master. But no one had seen or heard of him.  
Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in travelling-costume.
 
"Where's your master?" said he impatiently to the servant, who excused the notary under the plea of his present engagement with other visitors, but invited the stranger to await his leisure in the .
 
The youth was evidently disconcerted by the delay; for he paced the apartment with rapid strides and seemed altogether absorbed by some anxiety or disappointment which made him extremely restless. The notary's visitors seemed to be either very tedious clients or engaged in very important business; for more than half an hour elapsed before that made his appearance. He came into the room ceremoniously, prepared to measure his words and reception by his visitor's rank; but no sooner did he perceive who it was than his calculating features relaxed into a professional smile, and he advanced rapidly toward Gustave with outstretched hands.
 
"How are you, how are you, my dear sir?" said he. "I have been expecting you for several days, and I am really happy to see you at last. I am greatly flattered by the confidence you are disposed to place in me, and am ready, whenever you please, to devote myself to your affairs. By-the-way, I suppose there is a will?"
 
A shadow passed over Gustave's brow and his face became serious as he took a from his overcoat and drew a package of papers.
 
"I am pained, sir, at your loss," said the notary. "Your excellent uncle was my friend, and I his death more than that of any one else. It pleased God that he should die far away from his home. But such, ! is man's fate. We must console ourselves by the reflection that we are all mortal. Your uncle was very fond of you, and I suppose you have not been forgotten in his last moments?"
 
"You may see for yourself," said Gustave, as he placed the package on the table.
 
The notary ran his eyes over the papers, and, as he them, his face exhibited by turns surprise and satisfaction.
 
"Permit me," said he, "to congratulate you, Monsieur Gustave; these documents are all in order and unassailable. Heir of all his fortune! Do you know, sir, that you are more than a millionaire?"
 
"We will speak of that another time," said Gustave, interrupting him rather sharply. "I called on you to-day to ask a favor."
 
"You have but to name it, sir."
 
"You were the notary of Monsieur De Vlierbeck?"
 
"I was."
 
"I heard from my uncle that Monsieur De Vlierbeck had become very poor. I have reasons for desiring that his misfortunes may not be prolonged."
 
"Sir," said the notary, "I presume that you intend to do him an act of kindness; and, in truth, it could not be on a man, for I know the cause of his ruin and sufferings. He was a victim of and honor. He may have carried these to imprudence and even 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 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, ; "sit down and listen; it is not so terrible as you may perhaps think, since fortune enables you to their ."
 
"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 ; but all his property was mortgaged, and no one would assist him. In order to escape the of a forced sale, De Vlierbeck offered every thing at public , 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 himself into absolute begga............