The sarcasm was not lost upon me, and the idea that he was about to become the victim of a passion from which he might be wrested by a sacrifice on my part, greatly excited my feelings. "I will do any thing," said I; "_what_ shall I do to save you? Oh, Abbot! can you not refrain from this dreadful indulgence? What shall I do?" He leaped upon his feet, and eyed me with a look full of wildness. "Pay my debts," he cried; "pay my debts, and make me independent; and I--_I'll try_." "And what," said I, trembling with fear, "what sum will pay your debts?" "Twenty thousand--_perhaps_," said he. "Twenty thousand! what! twenty thousand dollars!" cried I, lost in confusion. "You won't, then?" said the reprobate. "Not a cent!" cried I, in a fury. "How came you to owe such a sum? Do you think I will believe you? How could you incur such a debt? What have you been doing?" "Gambling, drinking, and so forth, and so forth, twenty times over." He snatched up the bottle, and, locking it in the buffet, deposited the key in his pocket. Then seizing upon his hat, and stepping to where I stood, transfixed with grief and indignation, he said,--"You won't take the bargain, then?" "Not a dollar, not a dime, not a cent!" said I. "Not even to save my life, father?" "Not a dollar, not a dime, not a cent!" I reiterated, incapable of saying another word. "Farewell then," said he, "and good luck to you! It is a declaration of war, and now I'll keep no terms with you." Then giving me a look that froze my blood, it was so furiously hostile and vindictive, he struck his hands together, rushed from the house, and I saw him no more for nearly a fortnight. I saw him no more, as I said; but coming home the following evening from the club, I found my strong-box broken open and rifled of the money that I left in it. The sum was indeed but small, but the robbery had been perpetrated by my own son; and the reader, if he be a father, will judge what effect this discovery produced upon my mind. In good truth, I felt now that I was the most wretched of human beings, and was reduced nearly to distraction. But this blow was but a buffet with the hand, compared with the thunder-bolt that fate was preparing to launch against my bosom. I cursed my miserable lot; yet it wanted one more stroke of misfortune to sever the chain with which avarice still bound me to my condition. 5. CHAPTER V. THE FATE OF THE FIRSTBORN. On the eleventh day after the flight of Abbot, whom all my inquiries failed to discover, as I was walking towards the exchange, torn by my domestic woes, and by a threatened convulsion in stocks, which concerned me very nearly, I met one of my companions of the club, who, noting my disturbed countenance, drew me aside, and told me he was sorry I had got my foot into the fire; but the club had last night taken the matter into consideration, and agreed to stand by me, if it were possible.