The Price He Paid — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

238 THE CYNOSURE OF INTEREST. testimony of Dr. Brunnow himself is appealed, to, as corroborative evidence.” “And what is Raven’s answer to all this?” inter- posed the countess, hastily. “ He declares it to be absolutely and altogether a lie. The duty of self-defense requires this from him, of course; but of counter proofs there is no mention as yet. If he does not succeed in clearing up this business, and cleansing himself from all suc- picion, his part is played out.” : “Poor Matilda!” exclaimed the countess. The count shrugged his shoulders. | “Shall we keep the knowledge of what is going on from her for a time?” “No,” replied the countess. “She will learn it to- atin from the papers. It will be best to tell her a ‘ier The two agreed that the intended visit to the opera should be given up, and went back to the drawing-room together. Gabrielle’s face was ashy white as she left her place of concealment, and returned to her own room. She did not for a moment deceive herself as to the importance of the tidings she had just heard. The instinct of love gave her a better insight into Raven’s character than the most experienced judge of human actions might have had. While the Countess Selteneck was communicating to the baroness the painful intelligence, the young girl sat down to her writing-table, and rapidly, with feverish haste, traced some lines on a sheet of letter-paper. This note, which contained but a few words, she folded, and addressed to Assessor Win- terfeld at the ministry. It would surely find him there, she knew. It contained simply the news of her presence in town, and a request that George _ would come and see her on the following day at the Seltenecks’ house; that was all. In the afternoon of the following day, George Winterfeld entered the countess’ drawing-room. Gabrielle came in a few minutes later, and George hastened to greet her. with impetuous Joy. “Gabrielle, my darling, so we meet again at last!” Gomicbooks (E(0)