very soon leave Denmark; I shall go many
hundred miles hence shall, probably, never return; and thus you see the
principal ground for my coming to you is a whim: I will know wherefore
you have deceived me; I will know what is the connection between you and
her."

"Nay; so, then, it is _that_ that you want to know?" said Heinrich, with
a malicious glance. "Yes, see you, she is my best beloved; she shall be
my wife: but your sister she is for all that, and that remains so!"

"Thou couldst easily give me a little before thou settest off on thy
journey!" said Sidsel, who seemed excited by Heinrich's words, and put
forth her painted face.

Otto glanced at her with contracted eyebrows.

"Yes," said she, "I say 'thou' to thee: thou must accustom thyself to
that! A sister may have, however, that little bit of pleasure!"

"Yes, you should give her your hand!" said Heinrich, and laughed.

"Wretch!" exclaimed Otto, "she is not that which you say! I will find
out my real sister! I will have proof in hand of the truth! I will
show myself as a brother; I will care for her future! Bring to me her
baptismal register; bring to me one only attestation of its reality--and
that before eight days are past! Here is my address, it is the envelope
of a letter; inclose in it the testimonial which I require, and send it
to me without delay. But prove it, or you are a greater villain than I
took you for."

"Let us say a few rational words!" said Heinrich, with a constrained,
fawning voice. "If you will give to me fifty rix-dollars, then you shall
never have any more annoyance with us! See, that would be a great deal
more convenient."

"I abide by that which I have said!" answered Otto; "we will not have
any more conversation together!" And so saying, he turned him round to
go out.

Heinrich seized him by the coat.

"What do you want?" inquired Otto.

"I mean," said Heinrich, "whether you are not going to think about the
fifty rix-dollars?"

"Villain!" cried Otto, and, with the veins swelling in his forehead, he
thrust Heinrich from him with such force, that he fell against the worm
eaten door which led into the garden; the panel of the door fell out,
and had not Heinrich seized fast hold on some firm object with both his
hands, he must have gone the same way. Otto stood for a moment silent,
with flashing eyes, and threw the envelope, on which his address was, at
Heinrich's feet, and went out.

When Otto returned to the hotel, he