A Silver Brand — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

194 ‘A SILVER BRAND. _ “Indeed, indeed, your highness, I cannot tell. She has flown to the heavens surely.” The prince looked out through the high arched window up where there was a sweep of blue sky. . Did the realization of the great gulf that lies between the good and pure and the vile and sinful, even here on earth, sweep over him ? : | How she would look up with that far-piercing eye into the heavens! Yes, she was there! safe at last out of his clutches. What matter to the prince now whether Sebas- tian Schrodter received a bride or not? | Shivering he said in a strangely humble tone: “Tell me about it, Seippel !” “Tf I only could, your highness,” groaned Seippel, “but there is so little to tell. She was sad, very sad. And she asked my wife to pray for her. And she went herself upon the roof and knelt down. We heard a part of her prayer before we went below. It was strange and wild. She asked for the earth to open and shake her prison down, or for the sky to send a messenger to take her up into its safety and rest. We went below, and we heard nothing, we saw naught. An hour afterward Lisbet went up, and found the roof door closed and fastened. She called my lady again and again, but there was no answer. She came down shaking with fear. “ «There is something terrible happened !’ said she. ‘Go and try if she will answer you.’ “And I went, and called, and it was only stillness like the grave. Then I said she was asleep, or she had fainted. I called Hans, and we took axes and broke open the door after much labor.” He paused to wipe his clammy forehead. “Well,” gasped the prince, shutting one hand tight and hard against his breast. ‘‘ Well, you found——” “Nothing, your royal highness—nothing at all. There was no sign or trace of my lady. The roof was empty.” — - A quick reaction came over the prince. The ruddy hue rushed back to his ashy cheek. He drew one fierce breath. ‘‘Fool!” he vociferated. “She was hiding below some- where. It was a trick to escape. By Heaven, if she has succeeded your son’s paltry life will not be enough to sat- isfy my rage.” ‘‘Nay, nay, your highness, how should it be? The doors below were all fastened as usual, and we were there watch- ing and waiting. She escaped, if she escaped at all by mortal means, from the roof. And that you know is al- Eomicbooks (ele)