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 formed. But by a reference to my papers, I substantiated my belief; the whole of my genealogy was complete: and I stood before the wondering Baron, no longer the obscure, penniless adventurer, and patronized menial, but the rightful, and legal possessor of the proud domains of Bentheim!

The kind-hearted and generous noble attempted to offer me his congratulations; but I replied that all the riches, rank, and dignity in the world were worthless to me, until I knew whether I was to be rendered really happy by the possession of the lovely Adelaide. The blushes of that dear girl then revealed entirely to me, a secret already more than half betrayed. Bentheim also manifested no opposition; and thus we concluded the bond of our love.

While I was occupied in laying before the Baron the various evidence of my right of inheritance, I recollected the ring which I had given to Adelaide, during her nocturnal visit.

“Another collateral proof of my descent,” said I; “my bride herself can give you; on whose hand I placed it in a very memorable hour.”

An explanation was demanded by the Baron; and I asked Adelaide, whether she had never observed on her finger a ring which was unknown to her? To my surprise she answered in the negative. I then minutely described it; but she had no remembrance of it. At my instigation, she then repaired to her own chamber to search for it among her ornaments; but she quickly returned, stating that she could discover no ring at all resembling mine. Consequently, I was forced to conclude, what was by no means agreeable to me, that this valued bequest of my remotest ancestors had dropped from the hand of the fair sleepwalker while she was returning to her room.

I was now obliged to relate every particular of this gift. The Baron was much perplexed, by the intelligence of the apparition of his daughter in the mysterious chamber; and