The Price He Paid — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

MAX INTERVIEWS COUNCILOR MOSER. 249 in life, and speedily dissolved by death, was. about to leave him, to enter on her novitiate. He himself was getting on in years, and needed rest. His position, once his greatest pride, afforded him no satisfaction now. Moser was roused from his meditations by the opening of a door. | Christine announced “Dr. Brunnow,” and that gentleman quickly followed in person. The councilor rose and bowed to his visitor, with stiff politeness. “| hope you have not misconstrued my conduct in remaining a whole fortnight without calling on you,” began Max, when the first ceremonious words of greeting had been spoken, and he had taken the seat offered him. “It was solely out of consider- ation to you and your position, you understand. Now that my father——” “Tam already informed of his liberation,” inter- rupted the councilor, with all his usual rigid for- mality. “Our most gracious sovereign has been pleased to pardon.” “Yes, and so all the past is wiped out, and just as if it had never been,” said Max, with deft and logical inference. “As for my father, he will cer- tainly not make much use of the permission to re- main in his native land.” “Nor” asked Moser, visibly relieved by the tidings. ‘The thought that he had bestowed a friendly pressure on the hand of that attainted man weighed upon his conscience. “No; he returns to Switzerland, which hag be- come to hima second home,” replied the young sur- geon. “We shall continue to live there; but, in the first place, I feel impelled to reiterate to you my thanks for all the kindness I received in your house. I shall never forget it.” The councilor nodded graciously. These prof- fered thanks were but right and proper in his eyes. “So you come to take leave?” he asked. “I am rejoiced to see you are completely restored to health — and strength; and my daughter, too, will be de- lighted, I am sure, when I inform her of it.” Gomicbooks (E(0)