The Price He Paid — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

262 THE CHALLENGE. out an insult such as you have offered me. You will not refuse me this atonement, I suppose?” Not asyllable escaped the doctor’s lips. “On our first meeting after a lapse of years,” pur- sued the other, “you spoke to me words which made my blood boil in my veins. You were then a proscribed man, who had hastened to his son’s sick bed; every hour you spent here was fraught with danger. That was no fitting moment to demand an explanation. Now you are free—so name your time and arms.” “A duel between us!” exclaimed Brunnow. “No, Arno, you cannot exact this!” ; ‘ 4 insist on it. You will accept my challenge?” 6c 6? “Rudolph, I tell you, you will accept it.” “And, once again, I say no. Any other man [I will fight, if necessary, but not you.” “i did not think you had turned coward since we parted,” said Raven, with simulated scorn. That told. The doctor started up in anger, and his eye sparkled ominously. “Unsay that word!” he cried. “You know well that Iam no coward. I have no need to prove that to you now.” JT unsay nothing,” declared Raven. “You have brought a disgraceful charge against me, have re- peated it in the presence of a stranger, who, as you were well aware, would give it publicity, and now you seek to escape the consequences of your act. Call it what you like—I call it cowardice.” Brunnow’s self-command went from him al- together, as the fateful word was thus hurled at him a second time. or “Stop, Arno,” he panted; “I will not bear this.” The baron remained quite unmoved. Not a muscle of his face quivered. He stood, inflexible in his icy calm, goading his adversary on, step by step, to the requisite pitch of madness. “This, then, is your revenge?” he continued, in a contemptuous tone. “For twenty years you have stayed your hand. While I was great and power- ful, you did not venture to strike; but aman near- ing his fall is a safer, an easier target. Winterfeld, ~ €or (E(ayaniiicel oevoy <S