A Silver Brand — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

270 A SILVER BRANL. the bridge passage. They are there. I hear them talking and just planning escape this very hour. I have put two of the prince’s guard there to watch. We have them safe. The angry countenance of the prince cleared. Von Schubert glancing at it saw that in the brief time since he had been gone it had grown purple and swollen. ‘‘He has been drinking furiously,” thought he: ‘either something very bad or very flattering has taken place.” - The explanation soon came. Sa “It seems my fortunate star is shining,” said the prince, in a tone of hilarious gayety. ‘‘Hernberg, go out and as- sist my fair visitors to enter. I have two fair ladies in the carriage who are, no doubt, anxious for a glimpse of these stately walls. Nothing could have happened better had I the whole ordering of events. I arrive in season to prevent my greatest prize from flying away again. Von Schubert, you remember the strange fellow craving admit- tance at my door? What think you? It was a worthy Yankee skipper who had brought over the lovely heiress for whom we have planned so tenderly. She was there at the port waiting in his ship. I gave him the gold he asked. You shall say if it was not well bestowed when you look upon the face of the young baroness. And I trow she brings a maiden companion as fair and stately as her- self. Bring them in, up to the gallery, Hernberg, and then drive up the hiding obdurate one who has taken refuge in the secret corridor.” He stalked on as he spoke, and Von Schubert mechani- cally followed, lighting the way with the candle he still held. In amoment after Hernberg entered, and behind him, clinging to each other and glancing around in invol- untary awe and admiration, for all their distress and ter- ror, came—who but Lina and Serena. sare So impressed were all with the momentous revelation at hand that as one after another of the sleepers roused up, and came hastening to the scene, not a thought, scarcely a look was given tothe helpless figures of the heeavily sleeping guard. “Fairest baroness, behold your honored and distin- guished ancestors!” spoke the prince, with mocking cour- tesy. “‘I take great pleasure in introducing this last of the illustrious line to the home of which, from time imme- ie the Schwarzenbergs have been so proud and boast- ul. . The last words had reached Valentin Baer, for hearing the stir within the hall, he had ventured forth, fastening Eomicbooks €O