ights I had experienced.

But the nearer I approached Kottbus the more frequently arose the fear
that the French teacher might make our meeting the cause of an
accusation. He had already complained of me for very trivial
delinquencies and would hardly let this pass. And yet he might.

Was it a crime to drive with a young girl of stainless reputation under
her mother's oversight? No. I had done nothing wrong, except to say that
I was going to Komptendorf--and that offence concerned only Dr. Boltze,
to whom I had made the false statement.

At last I fell asleep, until the wheels rattled on the pavement of the
city streets. Was my dream concerning the swan to be fulfilled?

I entered the house early. Dr. Boltze was waiting for me, and his wife's
troubled face betrayed what had happened even more plainly than her
husband's frown.

The French teacher had instantly informed my tutor where and with whom he
had met me, and urged him to ascertain whether I had really gone to
Komptendorf. Then he went to Clara's former residence, questioned the
landlady and her servant, and finally interrogated the livery-stable
keeper.

The mass of evidence thus gathered proved that I had paid the actress
numerous visits, and always at dusk. My dream seemed fulfilled, but after
I had told Dr. Boltze and his wife the whole truth a quiet talk followed.
The former did not give up the cause as lost, though he did not spare
reproaches, while his wife's wrath was directed against the informer
rather than the offence committed by her favourite.

After a restless night I went to Professor Tzschirner and told him
everything, without palliation or concealment. He censured my frivolity
and lack of consideration for my position in life, but every word, every
feature of his expressive face showed that he grieved for what had
happened, and would have gladly punished it leniently. In after years he
told me so. Promising to make every effort to save me from exclusion from
the examination in the conference which he was to call at the close of
the afternoon session, he dismissed me--and he kept his word.

I know this, for I succeeded in hearing the discussion. The porter of the
gymnasium was the father of the boy whom my friend Lebenstein and I kept
to clean our boots, etc. He was a conscientious, incorruptible man, but
the peculiar circumstances of the case led him to yield to my entreaties
and admit me to a room next to the one where the conference was