The three lonely beings discussed the best plan to follow in order to rescue Paul, but could decide on nothing. A voyage to Paris? What good would it do? "Let his passion exhaust itself. He will come back then of his own accord," said the baron. Some time passed without any further news. But one morning they were terrified at the receipt of a despairing letter: "My Poor Mamma: I am lost. There is nothing left for me to do but to blow out my brains unless you come to my aid. A speculation that gave every prospect of success has fallen through, and I am eighty-five thousand dollars in debt. I shall be dishonored if I do not pay up--ruined--and it will henceforth be impossible for me to do anything. I am lost. I repeat that I would rather blow out my brains than undergo this disgrace. I should have done so already, probably, but for the encouragement of a woman of whom I never speak to you, and who is my providence. "I embrace you from the bottom of my heart, my dear mamma--perhaps for the last time. Good-by. "Paul." A package of business papers accompanying the letter gave the details of the failure. The baron answered by return mail that they would see what could be done. Then he set out for Havre to get advice and he mortgaged some property to raise the money which was sent to Paul. The young man wrote three letters full of the most heartfelt thanks and passionate affection, saying he was coming home at once to see his dear parents. But he did not come. A whole year passed. Jeanne and the baron were about to set out for Paris to try and make a last effort, when they received a line to say that he was in London again, setting an enterprise on foot in connection with steamboats under the name of "Paul de Lamare & Co." He wrote: "This will give me an assured fortune, and perhaps great wealth, and I am risking nothing. You can see at once what a splendid thing it is. When I see you again I shall have a fine position in society. There is nothing but business these days to help you out of difficulties." Three months later the steamboat company failed and the manager was being sought for on account of certain irregularities in business methods. Jeanne had a nervous attack that lasted several hours and then she took to her bed. The baron again went to Havre to make inquiries, saw some lawyers, some business men, some solicitors and bailiffs and found that the liabilities of the De Lamare concern were two hundred and thirty-five thousand francs, and he once more mortgaged some property. The château of "The Poplars" and the two farms and all that went with them were mortgaged for a large sum. One evening as he was arranging the final details in the office of a business man, he fell over on the floor with a stroke of apoplexy. A man was sent on horseback to notify Jeanne, but when she arrived he was dead. She took his body back to "The Poplars," so overcome that her grief was numbness rather than despair.