He folded the letter in confusion.

He had not the courage to say anything, or even to look at his friend, but dropped his hands and his head, and cast down his miserable eyes.
Schrotter was the first to break the silence.
"I must beg you once more to forgive me for opening the letter.

Of course, I could not have an idea--" "No," said Wilhelm in a low voice, "it is for me to ask your forgiveness for not having been open with you.

But I had every intention of making good my fault.

It was for that I asked you to meet me at Wittenberg." "Spare yourself the telling of anything that might be painful to you," said Schrotter, with kindly forethought.