A Silver Brand — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

X A SILVER BRAND, - ee a 45. found some one to give me the clew to the secret passage. Could I have done better dawdling here ?” “You have found the clew? Well, so have we—at least, — we have penetrated the outer entrance. I was saving my knowledge for the prince to witness with his own eyes.” ‘“He will come speedily. The king was already recov- ering from his strange trance when tle prince reached the palace. I am sure that he wishes to be here when you - first search that uncanny place. For myself he has given me a dozen commissions to be attended to to-morrow, and I am well-nigh dropping with fatigue now.” And saying this he walked past the guard and hurried up to his private rooms. On the way, as he had hoped, he met Theresa. : He bowed with his accustomed courtly gallantry and made some formal inquiries concerning her health, while the servant lingered in hearing, and then added under his breath : “The steamer does not sail until another day. We must postpone movements until to-morrow night. I have en- gaged berths and have managed the affair of passports. We have only to gain the steamer’s deck to be safe. I have a plan also for Aubrey Dalberg to lead us into the secret passage. The only danger is that the impatience of the prince may force him to change his mind. But we must have hope and faith.” ; “T have both,” returned she, softly, “and love and trust also.” Se. He gave her a tender, grateful glance and hastened away, warned by an approaching step inthe other cor- ridor. 3 Wearily enough dragged the next day in its slow length of hours and lagging moments within the mansion to the expectant group. How dismally then, with what wearing agony of suspense within the stifled, secret chamber where © | the three hapless prisoners watched and listened, scarcely knowing whether to expect the crush of the falling walls or the rush of triumphant foes! The stock of food was . entirely exhausted, though fortunately faithful old Wirt had procured a generous supply, little thinking he was himself to depend upon it for a day’s sustenance. Aubrey was in an agony of anxiety on this score, not knowing whether they might not be actually famishing. But no art beguiled the guard away from the gallery, and — one relieved another at regular intervals. The stratagem they intended to use in the final effort could not be risked Eomicbooks (eo)