The Price He Paid — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

GABRIELLE’S RETURN.—RETROSPECTIVE 275 way connected with the band, for one day he sent for me, and called me to account, though by no means as an offender whom he was anxious to con- vict. He talked to mein a kind, almost a paternal manner, and that disarmed me. I was so far carried away as to avow my political views, and to defend them—to defend them to him! “It was a grave error, and one that has cost me dear. No word fell from my lips regarding the secret I was bound to keep; the minister, indeed, made no attempt to extract a confession of it from me. He knew me, and was well aware that neither _ threat nor promise could induce me to act a perfidious part; but my ardent enthusiasm, my im- prudent championship of liberal ideas, were enough to put the experienced statesman on the right track. He dismissed me with apparent friendliness, but I had hardly reached my home when I was arrested, my papers were seized, and every chance of com- municating with my comrades was made impossible. Rudolph, who was known as my intimate friend, was the next victim. At his lodgings was found the correspondence relating to our association, and in ita key was had to the whole business. Four others of our band shared our fate. The blow fell so unex- pectedly that none had time to escape. “The charge against us was one of high treason, and we might hold ourselves prepared for anv fate. After a short interval I was again conducted to the minister’s presence. He informed me that I was released from confimement. He had, he said, convinced himself that. I had been led astray, that I had merely been the dupe of Brunnow and his con- federates, and offered to overlouk what had passed, if | would give him-my word of honor to break once for all with the revolutionary party. I stared at my chief in stunned amazement. Did he really not know how I stood toward this secret society, or was he intentionally ignoring the offense? My name, it is true, had nowhere figured in its records. “The minister preserved his imperturbable calm, and repeated the offer he had made. ' “<‘T will give you a month for reflection,’ he said. Eomileboo “S (E()