"Well, anyway, these von Reblings will know, thank Heaven."
But he shook his head. "I'm not so sure. You see, it's a good many years since you were in Berlin. The family arrangement dates back many more years than that, moreover—since you were children."
"What family arrangement?"
"Your betrothal to Miss Rosa."
"The devil!" I exclaimed. "Do you mean to tell me I'm engaged to marry this Rosa von Rebling?"
"Certainly I do, and a very charming girl she is, and very rich too," he replied, smiling unrestrainedly.
But it cost me some effort to smile in return. It was the very deuce of a mix up; there were no end of bothering complications in it, and I leant back in my seat to try and think it out. It was quite on the cards, after what he had said about my photograph, that even these people themselves might mistake me for Lassen; and if they did, I should be hampered at every turn in my search for Nessa.
"Is it really possible that you don't remember anything about it?" he asked after a long pause.
"Not a thing."
"The doctor hoped that the mention of them would stir your memory."