I have accomplished what I set myself to do, and I am
going back to eternity from this limited sphere. May you be as happy
as I shall be in a few hours! Keep a friendly thought for me as long
as you stay in this world of misery, and believe that he who writes
this had the warmest friendship for you."
"L. DORFLING."
Wilhelm stood as if thunderstruck. Was it by any chance a dreadful
joke? No; Dorfling was incapable of that. It must be a grim reality.
He ran quickly out of the house to seek Schrotter. The old Indian
servant opened the door, and in his broken English informed him that
Schrotter Sahib had found a letter when he reached home and had
immediately gone out again.
Wilhelm could now doubt no longer, and running swiftly, he reached
the street where Dorfling lived, waited in agonizing suspense for
the door to be opened, flew up the stairs, and through the open door
to his friend's bedroom. There he found Schrotter; Mayboom was also
there sobbing, and a tearful old servant. In an arm chair near the
bed was Dorfling, still in his dress coat and tie, his head sunk on
his breast, his face hardly whiter than in life, his arms hanging
down, and in the middle of the white shirt-front a great red stain.
On the floor lay a revolver.
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