Avarice is a passion which excites no other emotion than that of aversion or contempt, because it is natural to believe that when so degrading a vice takes possession of one’s soul it destroys every spark of generosity and fills it with meanness.  Accordingly, Gustave had a long and fearful conflict with himself in order to subdue this instinctive feeling and to convince his judgment that De Vlierbeck’s conduct was only a caprice which did not detract from the native dignity of his character.  And yet, had the young man known the truth, he would have seen that a pang was hidden beneath every smile that flitted over the old man’s face, and that the nervous shudders which at times shook his frame were the results of a suppressed agony that almost destroyed him.  As he gazed on the happy face of Lenora and steeped his soul in the intoxication of her love, he never dreamed that her father’s life was a prolonged punishment; that, day and night, a terrible future opened its vista before him; and that each moment of his existence brought him nearer and nearer to a dreadful catastrophe.  He had not heard the inexorable sentence of the notary:—­“Four months more and your bond expires, when all you possess in this world will be sold by the officers of justice to satisfy your creditors!”

Two of those fatal months had already expired!

If Monsieur De Vlierbeck appeared to encourage the young man’s love, it was not alone in consequence of his sympathy with his feelings.  No:  the denouement of his painful trial was to be developed within a defined period; and, if it proved inauspicious, there was nothing but dishonor and moral death for himself and child!  Destiny was about to decide forever whether he was to come out victorious from this ten years’ conflict with poverty, or whether he was to fall into the abyss of public contempt!  These were the feelings that induced him to conceal his true position more carefully than ever, and, while he watched over the lovers like a guardian spirit, made him do nothing to check the rapid progress of their passion.

As the time of his uncle’s return approached, the two months seemed to Gustave to have flown by like a pleasant dream; and, although he felt sure that his relative would not oppose the union, he foresaw that he would not be allowed hereafter to spend so much of his time away from business.  Indeed, the very idea that he might be obliged to pass considerable periods without seeing Lenora made him look for his uncle’s return with any thing but delight.

One day he contrived to whisper his fears and anticipations to Lenora, and, for the first time since their acquaintance, saw tears gathering in her eyes.  The girl’s emotion touched his heart so sensibly that he ventured timidly to take her hand, and held it in his for a long time without uttering a word.  De Vlierbeck, who had overheard the remark, tried to comfort him, but his words did not seem to produce the desired