Sealed Lips — page 290: what you’re looking at

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

282 SHALED LIPS. quality of her native country which she had left thirty years before. “What paper? What are you saying? Who gives you the right to speak to me in such an arro- gant tone? What would your superiors say if they knew where you were at this moment?” “Would to Heaven that I had no rights!” re- sponded the priest, “but this is a matter which con- cerns me and my conscience. As to you, if my presence annoys you it is easy to free yourself from it. Obey me, and I will go.” “Who sent you?” “T come on the part of the dead, of your daugh- ter’s husband.” “Did you know my son-in-law?” ; “What does it matter? In his name I claim the trust that he left with you, the last lines he wrote. It 1s his voice that speaks to you, his hand which threatens you. Take care!” | Martscha trembled from head to foot, for she had had superstitious fears of the dead from her cradle. Still she thought that to be the mother of a princess _ afew sleepless nights was not too high a price. | “You are deceived,” said she. “I never have re- cieved any trust. Who has made you believe that I would betray the confidence——” | “Woman,” said the priest, “do not continue these pretenses. I know you. If it was not blasphemy I should say that I admire you. You have more courage thanI have. Ihave not slept for twenty Eomicbookssco