A Silver Brand — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

_— 298 A SILVER BRAND. The baron glared at him, but held back the passion which mastered him. He moved slowly toward the stair- way. ‘‘T heard my name called. I supposed there was some matter of importance requiring my presence,” he said, ‘but as I was mistaken I will return to my chamber.” “Where we may visit you again,” sneered the prince. ‘“‘T want you to show the way to the secret passage. Lead on.” “The secret passage!” repeated the baron, looking over to Von Schubert for an explanation. “Ts there any such?” asked the latter. ‘“Not to my knowledge, on my honor. Von Schubert, I answer you truly.” “T never heard of it,” repeated Von Schubert. “Call up the servants, every soul!” thundered the prince. They came in, a scared group, huddling together with blank faces and sleepy eyes, hardly yet clear from the cob- webs of dreams. : Who knew of a secret passage ? ; , Not a soul answered. The brow of the prince grew black and wrathful. : ‘‘T will tear down the old walls, but I will find it,” mut- tered he. ‘‘Ho, then, my men, let us go forward and search every room.” ‘““Where is Wirt Womberg?” asked one of the house- maids, timidly. ‘Perhaps that igs what he meant when he said one day that there were trusts bequeathed him that would perish when he died.” | ‘Who is the man?” questioned the prince, sharply. “One of the old Schwarzenberg servants,” answered Von Schubert, looking around from -face to face. ‘‘I do not see him here.” “Did I not order you to call them all? Bring the man hither without delay,” reiterated the prince, stamping with impatience. Two or three of the under-servants darted away, and one returned shortly, leading a mild-faced, gray-haired man, who bowed with respect, but yet not with the accus- tomed subserviency of his class. | ‘IT want you to lead me to the secret passage,” said the prince, commandingly. “Lose no time, but lead the way.” “Your royal highness must pardon me,” answered the old man, with simple dignity ; “it is impossible.” comicbooks ee a? 7. 2. " ~ | . 4 ond é, 1 o dew wee re Ls ant Pe ae