Please pardon me! Let us be
friends, if we can be nothing more."
"It is too late. The chasm is too deep."
The old minister sighed deeply. His fingers touched the despatch box as
though by habit. It represented power, majesty and the iron game of
government. The young man watched him eagerly.
The heavy, tremulous hands of Count von Stroebel passed back and forth
over the box caressingly. Suddenly he bent forward and spoke with a new
and gentler tone and manner.
"I have given my life, my whole life, as you have said, to one
service--to uphold one idea. You have spoken of that work with contempt.
History, I believe, will reckon it justly."
"Your place is secure--no one can gainsay that," broke in Armitage.
"If you would do something for me--for me--do something for Austria, do
something for my country and yours! You have wits; I dare say you have
courage. I don't care what that service may be; I don't care where or how
you perform it. I am not so near gone as you may think. I know well
enough that they are waiting for me to die; but I am in no hurry to
afford my enemies that pleasure.
Pages:
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32