"I know it too well. There is no flaw in the documents; my dear husband's lawyer is a good man; we have no way of escape."
"Of course you have consulted him?"
"Yes; he can do nothing. It is law, he tells me; we have no other property the sale of which might pay off the mortgage; I have nothing but my jewels, the gifts of my dear comte, and they would not bring one-tenth of the sum we need. The income from the estate would enable us to pay off the mortgage in ten years if we were given time."
A ray of light struck suddenly upon Harry.
"Does Mynheer Grootz know?" he asked.
"Oh no! Mynheer Grootz is indeed a friend, but he could do nothing—nothing."
"I am not sure of that. I think he should be told. It is a matter of business; he is a shrewd man of business; he may be able to see a way out of the difficulty that we are ignorant of; with your leave I will put the case to him."
"No, Monsieur Harry, I forbid it. I prefer that Mynheer Grootz should not know. He has enough to do, I am sure, without being troubled with a poor woman's affairs. I do not say he has not a good heart; he has; he knows how fond I am of rare tulips, and has so kindly given me bulbs; but no, I could not seek other favours from him, I could not indeed. Besides, the lawyer has said, nothing can be done; Mynheer Grootz can do nothing against the law."
"True, Madame; and yet—it is a chance; it can surely do no harm——"
"You do not understand, Monsieur; it may do the very greatest harm."