The Opposite House: A Novel — page 257: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

252 The Opposite Flouse. could never have inflicted such a slight upon him. He did not hear the count’s conceited “ Certainly ;” but, with a hasty step forward, stood at his side, saying, curtly : “Follow me, Count Raven. I am sorry to be compelled to say that I must have Fraulein von Rotterswyl’s confirmation of your statement.” He led the way,and Count Hasso, biting his lips, followed, muttering: “Such a fuss about nothing !” Marie stood talking eagerly with an elderly officer, close beside the group of fir-trees, overtopped by blossoming oleanders and laurestinas, which con- | cealed the band of musicians. Marie had rested her arm on the bronze pedestal of aGermania;her hand, lightly grasping a glittering fan, was relieved against the metal background, and her smiling face, flushed by the exercise of dancing and animated by her large blue eyes, was raised to the bearded colonel as earnestly as if she longed to read his very thoughts ere his lips uttered them. Gerrald advanced and bowed formally to the speaker. His brow was dark and grave, and the glance which rested on the young girl’s face seemed almost unfriendly. ‘Pardon me, baroness. Count Raven has just been tosee me, and I have come in person—to hand you my dancing-card, which is now useless.” ComicboOoks.c©