“A new life—­a new and refreshing current of blood—­seems to have been suddenly poured into my veins,” said Monsieur De Vlierbeck.  “Alas, Lenora, what a sinner I have been! how wrong I was not to divulge all!  But you must pardon me, beloved child; you must pardon me.  It was the fear of afflicting you—­the hope of finding some means of rescue, of escape—­that sealed my lips.  I did not know you, my daughter; I did not know the inestimable treasure that God in his mercy had lavished on me!  But now you shall know all; I will no longer hide the secret of my conduct and my grief.  The fatal hour has come; the blow I desired to ward off is about to fall and cannot be turned aside!  Are you prepared, dear child, to hear your father’s story?”

Lenora, who was delighted to behold the calm and radiant smile that illuminated the face of her heart-broken parent, answered him instantly, in caressing tones,—­

“Pour all your woes into my heart, dear father, and conceal nothing.  The part I have to perform must be based on complete knowledge of every thing; and you will feel how much your confidence relieves your burdened soul.”

“Take, then, your share of suffering, daughter,” replied De Vlierbeck, “and help me to bear my cross!  I will disguise nothing.  What I am about to disclose is indeed lamentable; yet do not tremble and give way at the recital, for, if any thing should move you, it must be the story of a father’s torture.  You will learn now, my child, why Monsieur Denecker has had the hardihood to behave toward us as he has done.”

He dropped her hand, but, without averting his eager gaze from her anxious eyes, continued:—­

“You were very young, Lenora, but gentle and loving as at present, and your blessed mother found all her happiness centered in your care and comfort.  We dwelt on the lands of our forefathers; nothing disturbed the even tenor of our simple lives; and, by proper economy, our moderate income sufficed to support us in a manner becoming our rank and name.

“I had a younger brother, who was endowed with an excellent heart, but generous to a fault and somewhat imprudent.  He lived in town, and married a lady of noble family who was no richer than himself.  She was showy in her tastes and habits, and, I fear, induced him to increase his revenue by adventurous means.  There can be no doubt that he speculated largely in the public funds.  But probably you do not understand what this means, my child.  It is a species of gambling, by which a man may in a moment gain millions; and yet it is a game that may, with equal rapidity, plunge him into the depths of misery and reduce him as if by magic to the condition of a beggar.

“At first, my brother was remarkably successful, and established himself in town in a style of living that was the envy of our wealthiest citizens.  He came to see us frequently, bringing you, who were his godchild, a thousand beautiful presents, and lavished his affection with testimonials of kindness which were proportioned to his fortune.  I spoke to him often about the dangerous character of his adventures, and endeavored to convince him that it was unbecoming a gentleman to risk his property upon the hazards of an hour; but, as continued success emboldened him more and more, the passion for gambling made him deaf to all my appeals, all my advice.