The Price He Paid — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUEL. 283 “These lines are destined for my ward, Gabrielle von Harder. I should wish however, that she might | be in some measure prepared before receiving them or the news of any—accident—the shock to her would be terrible. 1 will ask you therefore to place this letter in her hands yourself; but to go to work with prudence, with extreme prudence. A tender young creature like Gabrielle needs care. If the intelligence were imparted to her too brusquely, too suddenly, it might kill her.” Wilten had some difficulty in concealing his sur- prise at this speech, which was a_half-confession. He began to understand why his son’s suit had not been more warmly countenanced. “T have your promise?” asked the baron. . “In case of your death, the young Baroness von Harder shall receive the letter from my own hands, and I myself will break the news to her with every precaution in my power. I give you my word.” “J thank you,” said Raven, visibly relieved. “ And now it is time we should set out. My carriage is waiting below. May I ask you to drive round alone to the back of the Castle-hill, where I will join you? I wish to avoid drawing attention to this unusually early journey, and prefer not to go out by the principal. entrance. I will come through the castle-varden.” . This arrangement struck Wilten as odd, but he assented to itin silence. Raven rang for his hat and ccat, and when his valet had brought both, the two gentlemen left the room together, separating below at the foot of the staircase. As the baron crossed the castle-yard, he met Councilor Moser, who was just coming out of his dwelling, and who appeared much surprised at see- ing his chief abroad at this unwonted hour. Raven stopped. “What, councilor? On foot so early?” “JT was only looking out at the weather, your ex- cellency,” explained the councilor. “I am in the habit of taking a constitutional in the morning, but when I see this cold, damp fog I prefer to remain at home.” Eomichboo cS (E(0)