e letter was from Neighbor Frieshardt, who again thanked him for
the money he had received for the sale of the cattle, praised him for
the faithfulness and ability with which he had managed the business, and
then went on to speak of Walter's father. "The old man," he wrote, "is
in good health, but he feels lonely, and longs for you to come back. 'If
Watty only were here, I should feel quite young again,' he has said to
me a hundred times. He sends you his love; and Seppi, who is still with
me, and is now a faithful servant, does the same. So good-by, Walter. I
think you now know what you had better do."

Without any delay Walter hastened to the general, showed him the letter,
and told him he had decided to leave Paris and return home.

The general used all his powers of persuasion, promised to regard the
young mountaineer as his own son; but it was all of no use. Walter spoke
so earnestly of his father's solitary home, and the desire he felt to
see his native mountains once more, that the old gentleman had to
reconcile himself to parting with him. "Go home, then," said he. "When
the voice of Duty calls, it is sinful to resist. But before you go, we
must open my nephew's will. It will surprise me very much if there is
nothing in it of importance to you." Unlocking the desk, the will was
found sealed up as it had been left by Mr. Lafond. After opening it, the
general read the document carefully through, and laid it down on the
table with an expression of disappointment. "Poor fellow!" he exclaimed.
"Death must have surprised him too suddenly, Walter, or he would
certainly have left you a larger legacy. This is all he says about you:
'To Walter Hirzel, my faithful and devoted servant, I bequeath the black
cabinet in my bedroom, with all its contents, and thank him sincerely
for all his attention to me.' That is the whole of it. But never mind,
my young friend; the old general is still alive, and he will make good
all that his nephew has forgotten."

Walter shook his head. "Thanks, a thousand times, dear sir, but indeed I
wish for nothing. My feet will carry me to my native valley; and once I
am there, I can easily earn my living. I dare say there will be some
little keepsake in the cabinet that I can take in memory of my poor
master, and I want nothing more."

"Then search the cabinet at once. Where is the key?"

"Here," said Walter, taking it from his pocket. "Mr. Lafond gave me the
cabinet shortly before his death, a