A Silver Brand — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

156 A SILVER BRAND. confess my senseless acquiescence in your plot has given you reason for it. But I assure you it was only a natural sympathy with what seemed to be injured and worthy in- nocence. Besides your daughter’s appeal to my compassion awoke the honorable chivalry which lies dormant in every true man’s breast, and urged me to resign myself con- tentedly, since the mischief was done. Now, however, I recognize another and more powerful call. I must return to America promptly. I will not remain here quietly an- other day.” | The resolutely glistening eye, the firm bearing of the young man seemed to fill the baron with consternation and dismay. ‘‘Good heavens, Herr Dalberg, what can you mean? What have I said or done to give such offense to you? Be seated, I pray you, and I will answer any and all your questions,” he cried, incoherently. Aubrey quietly withdrew the key from the lock and put it in his pocket, then walked forward and seated himself in the nearest chair. | “Who is this young girl?” he asked. : “She is the Baroness Schwarzenberg,” answered the Baron Valentin, tremulously. } Aubrey felt a little chilly thrill steal over him at the momentous import of this intelligence, but he kept the same stern, resolute expression of countenance. “How can you identify her by my description?” he asked again. “Because you bring the armorial device on the paper, and especially by the mark upon the wrist, which you tell me a bracelet hides. Ido not ask better proof now that I have learned of her existence.” oo This last allusion led Aubrey to remember the strange effect of his own birth-mark upon the Lady Theresa- Baring his arm hastily he held it before the baron’s aston- ished eyes. | ‘There are other wrists that bear the same mark. See !” ~The baron seized his arm with a grip that left its purple mark behind, and stared: down upon it as if unable to credit his own eyesight. He pulled out his eye-glass, and held it over it. Aubrey bent down and looked with him, wondering | meanwhile at the stupidity he had shown in never making such an examination before. He turned deadly pale as he gazed. Lo! the blur spread out into distinct and sym- comicbooks com