The note for me ran thus: "If you think it to be a sin to deliver the enclosed to your friend, burn it.

Have pity on an unfortunate girl, and be discreet." The enclosed letter which was unsealed, ran as follows: "If you love me as deeply as 'I love you, you cannot hope to be happy without me; we cannot correspond in any other way than the one I am bold enough to adopt.

I am ready to do anything to unite our lives until death.

Consider and decide." The cruel situation of the poor girl moved me almost to tears; yet I determined to return her letter the next day, and I enclosed it in a note in which I begged her to excuse me if I could not render her the service she required at my hands.

I put it in my pocket ready for delivery.