"And I had almost concluded that it was a vision, an illusion of my senses, when I came near to the window. My eyes by chance looked down. My tunic was covered with hairs, long woman's hairs which had entangled themselves around the buttons! "I took them off one by one and threw them out of the window with trembling fingers. "I then called my orderly. I felt too perturbed, too moved, to go and see my friend on that day. Besides, I needed to think over what I should tell him. "I had his letters delivered to him. He gave a receipt to the soldier. He inquired after me and was told that I was not well. I had had a sunstroke, or something. He seemed distressed. "I went to see him the next day, early in the morning, bent on telling him the truth. He had gone out the evening before and had not come back. "I returned the same day, but he had not been seen. I waited a week. He did not come back. I notified the police. They searched for him everywhere, but no one could find any trace of his passing or of his retreat. "A careful search was made in the deserted manor. No suspicious clue was discovered. "There was no sign that a woman had been concealed there. "The inquest gave no result, and so the search went no further. "And in fifty-six years I have learned nothing more. I never found out the truth."