DORFLING." Wilhelm stood as if thunderstruck.

Was it by any chance a dreadful joke?
No; Dorfling was incapable of that.

It must be a grim reality.

He ran quickly out of the house to seek Schrotter.

The old Indian servant opened the door, and in his broken English informed him that Schrotter Sahib had found a letter when he reached home and had immediately gone out again.
Wilhelm could now doubt no longer, and running swiftly, he reached the street where Dorfling lived, waited in agonizing suspense for the door to be opened, flew up the stairs, and through the open door to his friend's bedroom.