  Results are presented from the first detailed spectroscopic observations of
the recently identified intermediate polar RXJ0028.8+5917/V709 Cas. The study
of the emission line radial velocities allows us to remove the uncertainties on
the different aliases of the orbital period and a best value is found at
(0.2225 +/- 0.0002) day. It is also found that the system shows significant EW~
(2-4)A, broad absorptions affecting the Balmer lines from Hdelta to Hbeta.
These broad absorptions are interpreted as the contribution of an underlying
white dwarf atmosphere. The characteristics of the absorptions are found to be
consistent with a DA log(g) = 8 white dwarf at a temperature of ~ 23 000 K,
contributing ~ 17 % (at 4500 A) to the overall flux. This is the first direct
detection of a white dwarf in an intermediate polar system. The absence of
significant Zeeman splitting indicates a magnetic field lower than 10 MG,
confirming that, at least in some cases, intermediate polars have weaker fields
than polars. Different possibilities are discussed to explain the substantial
contribution of the white dwarf to the overall flux.
