‘“Isn’t she at home? Didn’t she know that I was to be back to-day?” ‘“I don’t know. Perhaps she may come soon.” ‘“Has she gone out?” ‘“Probably.” ‘“Where has she gone?” ‘“I really don’t know; perhaps she has gone across to Theodora’s.” ‘I went over there, but Annita had not been there. I ran back, and rushed in despair to my mother, and implored her to tell me where Annita was. ‘“I hope no misfortune has happened to her,” I exclaimed. ‘“I don’t know,” said my mother; “ask your father.” ‘I went to my father, and I must have had a strange look, there must have been something alarming in my countenance, for he turned pale. ‘“Where is Annita? What have you done with her?” ‘“I don’t know. I have already told you so,” he replied evasively. ‘“You don’t know—‘don’t know,’ you all say. Who, then, does know where she is?” ‘“Well, that is just what nobody does know.” ‘“If she is dead you may as well tell me at once.” ‘“No, so far as I know, she is not dead.” ‘“But where has she gone, then? In God’s name tell me what you know, and what has happened.” ‘“She has disappeared.” ‘“Disappeared! Why, in what way?” ‘“About a month ago she was missed, and since that time we have neither seen nor heard anything of her.” ‘I was on the point of falling, but I collected myself, and went close up to my father, as pale as death, and with frenzied threatening gestures, so that he drew back. ‘“Surely you are not going to strike your father,” he exclaimed. ‘“No,” I said; “but I will know the truth. Where is Annita? What have you done with her? Have you murdered her?” ‘“As I tell you, she disappeared a month ago; nobody knows any more.” ‘“Father, that is not true. You are lying to your son. You hide things from me, but I will know the truth, even if I have to squeeze it from you like drops of blood.” ‘“You can do what you like.” ‘“Did you look for her?” ‘“Yes; your mother and the servants searched for her.” ‘“And found no trace?” ‘“No; none that I know of.” ‘I rushed again to my mother, but she called heaven to witness that she knew nothing. I ran round to the servants, and asked them all the same question, but I got the same answer, that she had disappeared, and that no one knew anything as to how it had happened. I rushed to her room, but all the things were untouched, and the room was as if she had only just left it. Could she have gone out for a walk, and have been killed by some wild beast, or robbed and murdered?