The Price He Paid — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

94 AT THE BALL. absence would have been looked upon as a demon- stration against the throne; it would have laid us open to misconstruction of the worst kind, and we are particularly anxious to avoid giving offense in those high quarters. The baron knows very well that it was this consideration alone which brought us here. We should not be likely to come to a ball given in his honor.” “On your side, you should not push matters too far,” advised his companion. “You must know Baron von Raven pretty well by this time. There i no yielding, no compromise to be expected from bys “And from us still less. We intend to stand firmly by our rights, and the future will show whether a governor, who takes up such an attitude toward us, can permanently hold his own.” “He will hold his own, thatis certain,” said the superintendent, decidedly. “You have nothing to Habs there. His influence in high places is bound- ess.” The burgomaster started, and cast a scrutinizing look at the speaker. “You ‘seem to be very well informed on the sub- ject. True, you came tousfrom the capital, and have no doubt friends and connections there.” “No, not that,” replied the other, coolly repelling the insinuation. “But it appears to me that the baron’s line of conduct shows sufficiently how sure he feels of his position, and how all-powerful he knows his influence to be in certain regions. You would do better not to provoke any open rupture between the town and him. A catastrophe can very well be avoided, even yet.” So saying, he went off. The burgomaster looked after him with a grim frown of displeasure. “Yes, yes,” he muttered; “avoid a catastrophe at any cost, so that my friend the superintendent may be able to preserve the neutrality of which he makes such a show. He has positively contrived to pose as the governor’s obedient servant, and at the same time to pass himself off in the town as the amiable, Gomicbooks (E(0)