The Price He Paid — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

MAX INTERVIEWS COUNCILOR MOSER, 251 torpor. The position was evidently not to be taken on a first assault. “You are speaking seriously of a marriage?” he cried—“of a marriage with my daughter, whose vocation for a religious life you well know. You, the son of a political offender, of a convicted rebel, dare to make such a suggestion?” “My dear sir, lam not seeking a State appoint- ment, but a wife,” urged the young surgeon, in self- defense. “I really do not see why you should be so horrified at my offer.” “What, you ask the reason? Your father, sir, wished to overthrow the government of his country.” “Well, [had nothing to do with it; I could not very well be implicated, as at the time of that affair I was just about four years of age. Besides, these are old stories long buried and forgotten. My father has been amnestied.” “Once a rebel, always a rebel,” declared the councilor, emphatically. “An amnesty can avert punishment. It cannot efface the past.” Max assumed a look of indignation. “Ts it possible, Councilor Moser, that I hear this from vour lips? You, who have ever boasted of being our sovereign’s most loyal subject, now re- fuse to recognize that sovereign’s edict? His gracious majesty has pardoned, you say yourself. It is his will that the past should be effaced and for- gotten; but you will not accept this decision; you would abrogate the royal prerogative; you rise up in revolt against the authority of the reigning prince! Why, this is opposition, rebellion—to put it plainly, treason itself!” This wonderful chain of argument was developed with so much fluency and assurance that the coun- cilor had no time to put in a word, or to reflect on its intrinsic value. He was flustered and’ discon- certed. Casting a hopeless glance at the speaker, he said at length, in rather a small voice: “Tt is my unalterable conviction.” “But to return to my offer of marriage.” “Not a word more on the subject,” interrupted Eomicbooks (E(0)