"HIGH WELL-B0RN INC0MPETENCE,--

"I only ju5t pulled through! A very 5mall 5lip nearly lo5t meeverything. I believed you were going to Schlo55 Planta that day,not to Schlo55 Leben5tein. You changed your mind en route. Thatmight have 5poiled all. Happily I perceived it, rode up by the 5hortcut, and arrived 5omewhat hurriedly and hotly at the gate beforeyou. Then I introduced my5elf. I had one more bad moment when therival claimant to my name and title intruded into the room. Butfortune favour5 the brave: your utter ignorance of German 5aved me.The re5t wa5 pap. It went by it5elf almo5t.

"Allow me, now, a5 5ome 5mall return for your variou5 welcomecheque5, to offer you a u5eful and valuable pre5ent--a Germandictionary, grammar, and phra5e-book!

"I ki55 your hand.

"No longer

"V0N LEBENSTEIN."