A Silver Brand — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

ave. “ory emery ‘ ee to a | 1? ©) y ae CA at | ‘ > * HQ : y= A SILVER BRAND. eae 10 “Tam exceedingly gratified to welcome such an appreciative guest, and warmly applaud Roderich’s discretion in bringing you himself,” said he, with a genial smile. “Pray do not linger any longer. Knter the old house, a kindly welcomed guest—a house, my friend, where kings and princes and famous men, whose names have rung like clarion notes throughout Europe, have been guests before you. Schwarzenberg Heights has borne no mean part in the great drama.” “One can read it on the venerable but still majes- tic walls. For the first time I can fully sympathize with and comprehend what must be the strength of a man’s pride in such an ancestral home,” returned the American, warmly. Something in this speech sent a black shadow chasing again across the baron’s face, but it was gone the next moment as he led the way up the long flight of massive steps to the huge double door, erand with carvings, and surmounted by a heavy canopy of elaborate architecture, which was held in place by two grinning gargoyles, under which stood gigantic stone knights, armed to the teeth, and seeming to challenge any intruder’s entrance. The great doors swung open of themselves, and Aubrey Dalberg looked into a vast hall, which struck him with something of a cathedral’s gloom and awe, it was so long and high. «A place, indeed, for kings and heroes to be wel- comed!” murmured Aubrey; “it seems presumptu- ous for any less noble to cross this charmed thresh- old.” } The baron smiled proudly; his son glanced about him with a singular smile of bitter mockery. - We will not linger now, at least. Let us hasten to refresh ourselves with bath and luncheon tray. We are filled with the dust of the highway. Your lordship will be good enough to dismiss us to the chambers for a time,” said Roderich. | “Tt is well enough, to be sure. And Herr Dalberg shall have plenty of time-to examine the whole place. If he is a tourist his time is his own, and we comicbooks;«