The Price He Paid — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

MAX INTERVIEWS COUNCILOR MOSER. 253 doctor, who folded it neatly together before laying it on the table. With that “white monstrosity” all the old gentleman’s vehemence seemed to have gone from him; the allusion to apoplexy had made him anxious. He looked on quietly while his tor- mentor went up to the writing-table, wrote a pre- scription fora harmless composing draught, and then returned to him, holding the paper. “Six drops in a glass of water,” he said impres- Sively. “ How often?” growled the councilor. “Three times a.day.” “Thank you.” “Don’t mention it, pray.” The councilor hoped and expected that this irre- pressible suitor would now deliver him from his presence; but he was soon undeceived. Instead of taking his leave, the young man drew forward a chair, and sat down opposite him. “So I may reckon on your consent to my marriage with your daughter?” Max began again. Moser would have blazed forth anew. but he thought of the tendency to apoplexy and the neces- sity of avoiding all excitement, and therefore re- plied with all the calm he could command: “No; a thousand times no! Ido not believe that Agnes can so far forget herself as to entertain an affection for you. She has, of her own free will, chosen a religious life. She is an obedient daughter. a pious Catholic.” “And will, 1am sure, make an excellent wife,” wound up Max. “Besides, after all, I am a Catholic myself.” Moser folded his hands. “« Ah, what sort of one?” he groaned. “T only mean that the religion need not be an obstacle. My position, I must confess, is rather a modest one at present; but it may satisfy a wife who has not very soaring pretensions. As for my character and habits, my father-in-law——” “Hor Heaven’s sake, let me have no more of your father-in-law. I will not endure it. You are an impertinent, a most obnoxious person,” Eomichboo gs) (E(0)