indeed appeared insane. The old woman came in. I entreated and
implored her to tell me why this dreadful fate should have overtaken
me. She remained quite indifferent and I sank back, almost fainting,
on the bed. She laid a moist cloth over my face, a cloth that had
a peculiar odour. I soon fell asleep. It seemed to me that there
was some one else besides the woman in the room with me. Or was
she talking to herself? Next morning the letter and my answer had
disappeared. "It was as I thought; there was some one else in my
room. Some one who had come on the tramway. I found the ticket on
the carpet beside my bed. I took it and put it in my notebook -

"I believe that it is Sunday to-day. It is four days now since I
have been conscious. The first sound that I remember hearing was
the blast of a horn. It must come from a factory very near me.
The old windows in my room rattle at the sound. I hear it mornings
and evenings and at noon, on week days. I did not hear it to-day,
so it must be Sunday. It was Monday, the 18th of November, that
I set out on my trip, and reached here in the evening - (here?
I do not know where I am), that is, I set out for Vienna, and I know
that I reached the Northern Railway station there in safety.

"I was cold and felt a little faint - and then he offered me the
tea - and what happened after that? Where am I? The paper that
they gave me may have been a day or two old or more. And to-day is
Sunday - is it the first Sunday since my departure from home? I do
not know. I know only this, that I set out on the 18th of November
to visit my kind old guardian, and to have a last consultation with
him before my coming of age. And I know also that I have fallen
into the hands of some one who has an interest in my disappearance.