A Silver Brand — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

‘A SILVER BRAND, | ay gesture interchanged between father and son— especially now that he was able to detect a nervous trepidation in young Roderich’s countenance when- ever he met his inquiring eye. This secret. con- sciousness In a measure destroyed his enjoyment of the treasures of literature and art scattered so. pro- fusely before him, and he was relieved when. the door again opened and the baron himself appeared. He came in with a light, elastic step, smiling so brightly that Aubrey half suspected he had dreamed the scene in the picture-gallery. , “Tam rejoiced to see your lordship recovered,” stammered he. The baron waved his hand with a lordly gesture. “Do not speak of it. It was but a momentary attack. Iam quite well now. I1trust my son has looked after your entertainment, and has not per- mitted you to weary of the place. Do you find aught of interest among the parchments? There are some worth around sum of gold among the connoisseurs. If you have not found them, I must hunt them up for your benefit.” Perceiving the gentleman’s ‘determination to ig- nore all remembrance of his illness, Aubrey Dal- berg quietly followed his lead, and gave his un- divided attention to the parchments. “One would need many weeks to explore among such rich treasures,” he said, with a smile, presently lifting his head from out the depths of the parch- ment case. “Why not take weeks, my friend?” said the host; “be sure that you may claim a warm welcome for that time.” Aubrey turned to answer lightly, and was aware of the young count’s eye fixed upon him with an eager, watchful expression—something more and deeper than the call of common hospitality de- manded. | “Nay,” replied he, in a low, constrained voice, “while I cannot doubt the pleasue and profit of such a stay, I see the impossibility of its occurrence. I have made all my arrangements to leave Germany next week, as well as secured my passage home in Gomicbooks (E(@)