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 little exciseman, who amidst his good wishes, told me in confidence that he had at first intended Dinny for me, but seeing I had fallen in love elsewhere, he had that very moment promised the girl to another.” “Mr Wachtel,” he added, “is a rich fish, and has been paying his addresses to the girl for more than a twelvemonth. I must call him to make you good friends with each other as you are now both in the same situation.” The interview with Mr Wachtel over, I was called by Florentine to another part of the room, and introduced by her to her bridegroom, one of the young gentlemen I had seen at table with her in the inn, on the evening of my arrival at Klarenburg. In less than another quarter of an hour it was discovered that the four remaining adjutants were nothing behind their fellows in the affair of betrothal.

The first moments of surprise into which we were all thrown by the unexpected denouements over, Mrs Waldmark desired me to follow her into another room, where she introduced me to two gentlemen, one of whom was the executor of my grandmother’s will.will, [sic] the other the director of the establishment for the poor.

“It may be wrong, perhaps, Robert,” said Mrs Waldmark, “to disturb you in a moment of pleasure, but you are aware of the existence of your grandmother’s sealed packet, and the moment for opening it has arrived, as you have announced your betrothal. Here are the two witnesses, so let us proceed to examine the document.”

The moment was not very pleasing to me. Not that I cared for the fate of the fifty thousand crowns, having made my choice and won Joanna,—but I would rather have been relieved that evening from all concern about business; however my mother’s friend wished it and that was enough.

The packet was now produced and opened, after every one had satisfied himself that the seals were entire. The signature was next verified, and the contents read, which ran thus: