I know not how I returned to Z.--It was not my legs that carried me, it was not a boat that took me to the other side; I was wafted along, so to speak, by strong, large wings. I passed a thicket where a nightingale was singing. I stopped, listened a long time; it seemed to be singing of my love and my happiness. XXI. The next morning, on approaching the white house, I was astonished to see the windows open, also the entrance door. Some pieces of paper were scattered about the threshold; a servant, her broom in her hand, appeared at the door. I approached her. "They have gone!" she exclaimed, before I could ask whether Gaguine were at home. "Gone!" I repeated; "how is that? Where have they gone?" "They went this morning at six o'clock, and did not say where they were going. But are you not Monsieur N----?" "Yes." "Very well! my mistress has a letter for you." She went upstairs, and came back with a letter in her hand. "Here it is," said she. "You must be mistaken, it's impossible!" I stammered. The servant looked at me vacantly, and began to sweep. I opened the letter; it was from Gaguine. Not a line from Annouchka! In beginning, he begged me to forgive him for this hasty departure. He added that when I was calmer I would approve, no doubt, of his determination. It was the only means of getting out of an embarrassing position, and one that might become dangerous. "Yesterday evening," he said to me, "while we were waiting for Annouchka in silence, I was convinced of the necessity of a separation. There are prejudices that I respect; I can understand that you could not marry her. She has told me all, and for her sake I must yield to her urgent entreaties." At the end of his letter he expressed regret at the breaking off of our friendly intercourse so soon; hoped that I would always be happy; pressed my hand, and begged me not to try and meet them again. "A question of prejudices indeed!" I exclaimed, as if he could hear me. "Folly all that! What right has he to take her away from me?" I clutched my head wildly. The servant began to scream for her mistress, and her fright brought me to my senses. I felt that I had but one object: to find them again; to find them again at any cost. To bear such a blow; to resign myself; to see things end in this way was truly beyond my strength! I learned from the landlady that they went at six o'clock to take the steamboat down the Rhine. I went to the office; they told me that they had taken places for Cologne. I returned to my house to pack up and immediately follow them.