What
the "other request" was, I could not guess; but as I was turning
and twisting the worn leaf in some perplexity, I made a sudden
discovery. One side of the bottom edge had been very slightly
doubled over in folding, and as I smoothed it out, I noticed some
diminutive letters in the crease. The paper had been worn
nearly through, but I made out the words: "Write very soon,
dear Otto!"
This was the name in the order for the gold ring, signed "B. V.
H."--a link, indeed, but a fresh puzzle. Knowing the stubborn
prejudices of caste in Germany, and above all in Eastern Prussia
and Silesia, I should have been compelled to accept "Otto," whose
sister was in service, as himself the servant of "B. V. H.," but
for the tenderly respectful letter of "Amelie de----," declining
the marriage offer for her sister. I re-read this letter very
carefully, to determine whether it was really intended for "Otto."
It ran thus:
"DEAR FRIEND,--I will not say that your letter was entirely
unexpected, either to Helmine or myself. I should, perhaps, have
less faith in the sincerity of your attachment if you had not
already involuntarily betrayed it.
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