The Price He Paid — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

220 A VACATION IN THE CAPITAL. “T am a soldier, and must obey, as your excel- lency knows.” “Assuredly you must obey—that I quite see.” Another uncomfortable pause followed. The colonel seemed to be thinking how he could effect a diversion; but Raven forestalled him. “As the matter now stands, the conference I wished to hold with you becomes superfiuous,” he said, with enforced calm. “No excuses, pray. can well conceive that it is very painful to you per- sonally, but you cannot alter the circumstances, so let us say no more onthe subject. I wanted to speak to you also on a little matter of private busi- ness. You gave me to understand some time ago that your son was likely to come to me with a re- quest. Lieutenant Wilten has not declared himself as yet, and in these troubled, excited times it would hardly have been possible for him to do so.” “Quite impossible,” assented the colonel. “I pointed out to Albert that it would argue a want of proper feeling on his part, were he to trouble you with such matters at a time when you have so much to contend with. He admitted the justice of what I said. Besides, he is leaving us to-morrow.” “So suddenly?” asked Raven, in surprise. “He is going to M—— ona mission connected with the service, and will probably remain there some weeks,” returned the colonel, who was grow- ing visibly embarrassed beneath the baron’s severe scrutiny. “I had originally intended to send an- other officer, but I cannot dispense with his assis- tance now; and my son, as the youngest on my staff, can be most easily spared. So the matter we were speaking of can rest for the present. Later on, when Albert returns, we can take it up again.” There were hard, bitter lines about Raven’s mouth as he answered: “On the contrary, I wish this matter to be settled at once, and forever. My sister-in-law regrets to find that she is not in a position to satisfy the hopes which she encouraged the young baron to entertain. She has now convinced herself that her daughter does not possess that amount of affection for your Eomichooks. co