Chapter 7

           Onmyreturn,Ifoundthefollowingletterfrommyfather:—

           "MydearVictor,

           "Youhaveprobablywaitedimpatientlyforalettertofixthedateofyourreturntous;andIwasatfirsttemptedtowriteonlyafewlines,merelymentioningthedayonwhichIshouldexpectyou.Butthatwouldbeacruelkindness,andIdarenotdoit.Whatwouldbeyoursurprise,myson,whenyouexpectedahappyandgladwelcome,tobehold,onthecontrary,tearsandwretchedness?Andhow,Victor,canIrelateourmisfortune?Absencecannothaverenderedyoucalloustoourjoysandgriefs;andhowshallIinflictpainonmylongabsentson?Iwishtoprepareyouforthewoefulnews,butIknowitisimpossible;evennowyoureyeskimsoverthepagetoseekthewordswhicharetoconveytoyouthehorribletidings.

           "Williamisdead!—thatsweetchild,whosesmilesdelightedandwarmedmyheart,whowassogentle,yetsogay!Victor,heismurdered!

           "Iwillnotattempttoconsoleyou;butwillsimplyrelatethecircumstancesofthetransaction.

           "LastThursday(May7th),I,myniece,andyourtwobrothers,wenttowalkinPlainpalais.Theeveningwaswarmandserene,andweprolongedourwalkfartherthanusual.Itwasalreadyduskbeforewethoughtofreturning;andthenwediscoveredthatWilliamandErnest,whohadgoneonbefore,werenottobefound.Weaccordinglyrestedonaseatuntiltheyshouldreturn.PresentlyErnestcame,andenquiredifwehadseenhisbrother;hesaid,thathehadbeenplayingwithhim,thatWilliamhadrunawaytohidehimself,andthathevainlysoughtforhim,andafterwardswaitedforalongtime,butthathedidnotreturn.