The Price He Paid — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

164 HIS FIRST LOVE. into the hall. Gabrielle closed the window gently. She meant to leave the study at once—the baron should not find her there—but it was too late for a retreat. He must have mounted the stairs in great haste, for already his steps could be heard in one of the adjoining rooms, and his voice asking: “What? Fraulein von Harder is not in her apart- ments?” “The baroness is in your excellency’s study, and has been waiting there for more than an hour,” a servant replied. | No response was made to this, but the step ap- proached at a quickened pace; the door:was thrown open, and Raven appeared. “T was going over to your rooms, when they told me you were here;” he spoke in a breathless, hurried tone. “I could not possibly send any news to tranquilize you. The riotis only just quelled. Allis quiet for the moment. I came up here at once.” | Gabrielle tried to answer him, but her voice for- sook her. She could not force a sound from her lips. Raven looked at the fair, pale face, on which the torture of the last few hours was but too legibly written. He made a movement, as though to draw her to his side, but as yet the habit of self mastery prevailed. The arm he had raised fell to his side, his chest heaved, and he drew a deep, deep breath. “And now, Gabrielle, repeat to me the words you spoke a while ago in the carriage, the words with which you repelled me.” . -“ What words?” asked Gabrielle, in painful em- barrassment. “Tell me again the untruth, by the help of which you tried to deceive both yourself and me. Look me in the face, and repeat to me that you love Winterfeld, and are determined to be his. If you can do that, you shall never again be troubled by a word from me. But say it, say it out plainly.” The girl drew back. ate let me go! I—I—oh, let me go, for Heaven’s sake!” “No, I will not let you go, Gabrielle!” broke out Eomichboo gs) (E(0)