The Price He Paid — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

THE BARON’S DECREE. 117 Baroness von Harder, even though it be in the pres- ence of her mother?” 6é No. 99 “Then I cannot give the required promise.” “Reflect well, assessor. Remember who it is you are braving,” warned the baron, and there was un- mistakable menace in his tone. The young man’s fine clear eyes met those of his chief fearlessly, yet the somber fire smoldering in these latter was of a nature to make him pause and reflect. The two men stood face to face, like wrestlers, measuring each other’s strength before the struggle. The younger, calm and resolute; the elder, vibrating in every nerve with terrible agita- tion. “TI brave only a harsh and unjust sentence,” said George, taking up the last words. “Your excel- lency decrees our separation, and we must yield to the sentence, having no arms wherewith to defend ourselves; but to refuse us an interview—the last, probably, for years—is, I repeat it, both harsh and unjust. I do not know how Fraulein von Harder may be worked upon, in what manner my silence and reserve may be interpreted to her. I must, at least, tell her, once for all, that I maintain my right to her hand, and that I will spare no exertion to deserve it. This I shall attempt to say by letter or by word of mouth, with or without your excellency’s leave.” : He bowed and retired, not waiting for the usual signal of dismissal. Raven threw himself into a chair. The interview had taken an unexpected course. | He was accustomed to break down all resistance by the sheer might of his imposing word and pres- ence, but on this occasion that might and all the prestige of his exalted station had been summoned to his aidin vain. He had succeeded neither in abashing nor inintimidating hisadversary ; in more than one respect he must acknowledge him as his peer. Gabrielle had bestowed her love on no_un- worthy object; this was the secret trouble which gnawed at the man’s heart, as he lay back brood- EoOmichboo <S (E(0)