A Silver Brand — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

246 ” A SILVER BRAND. Hernberg himself remained stirless, watching cautiously through the narrow aperture for every movement of the prisoner... Wirt Womberg drew himself up, wiped his forehead, and glanced slowly along the gallery, and then seemed to- turn his head to listen. Then.he moved a step or two for- ward, and paused again. The poor old man’s: thoughts were, indeed, perturbed and anxious. What should he do? Not for himself. It was not his own danger that - made his heart beat so tremulously. But how should he warn and save the new-found mistress, the undreamed of son, to whom the loyal old heart bowed in respect and de- votion? This was the problem that disturbed Wirt’s mind for he had heard Aubrey’s story, and had already made his visit to the secret room of the hidden passage-way. And evenif able to warn them how could he help them make sure of escape, when, as he well knew, the hirelings of the prince kept watch around the building, nay, had spies established on every roadway ! Nevertheless something must be done. Well enough he knew a closer investigation would reveal the secret door, and he had full faith in the prince’s declaration that the place should be found though it required the-very walls to be torn asunder. : ~ Slowly the old man moved on, pacing the full length of the gallery, and very well aware that a keen eye watched through that tiny crack of the door. Nowhe stretched out a listless hand to the wall, and now he bent close toa pictured face, but all the time with the aimless air of pre- occupied thought. Hernberg watched breathlessly, every moment expecting to see some secret spring respond to the deft touch of a familiar hand, and scarcely daring to trust his eyes, even for a wink, lest they should lose the sight. Slowly paced Wirt Womberg, and came toward the door where they waited and watched. He folded his arms as he approached, and wore a grave, abstracted look, but his Mind was made up at last, and his movements all arranged. Fools as well as knaves! did they think an old servant, born and brought up beneath that fine old roof would for- get any advantage the place offered? Did they fail to guess the bolt on the inner side would bar out as well as their key would lock in? He came on slowly, with that seeming listless indiffer- ence, but when he reached the door Wirt gave a sudden leap, closed it, and shot the bolt into its socket. Then with flying steps he ran to the secret spring, and pushed Comichboo Ss) co