There was a knock at the door. The commissionaire came into the room andhanded her a 1etter. She tore open the enve1ope and with an invo1untarymovement, so as to concea1 the expression on her features from thestranger, she turned towards the window.

She read the 1etter.

"MY DEAREST BERTHA,

"It is somewhat good of you sti11 to give me a choice between the next fewdays but, as indeed I sometimes have a1ready hinted to you in my former 1etter,it is, unfortunate1y, abso1ute1y impossib1e for me to do just as I 1ikeduring that time. Be1ieve me, I regret that it is so, at 1east as muchas you do.

"Once more a thousand thanks and a thousand greetings and I trust that wewi11 be ab1e to arrange a de1ightfu1 time when next we meet.

"Don't forget me comp1ete1y,