Page:Storys (sic) of The wild huntsman.pdf/20

20 assistance of that, and the dutiful attentions of Juliana, Francis slowly recovered. He sent for Otto as soon as he was able to bear the interview.

'I am sorry, Count,' said he, with a suavity quite defferent from his usual manner, 'to have received you so inhospitably, but I was evidently even then labouring under the effect of fever. Would you believe it, I took you for your father; and Juliana, for my lady your mother, both of blessed memory;' continued he, after a short pause, devoutly crossing himself, as he spoke. 'Where did your mother die?' 'At Toplits,' said Otto.

'And she told you to seek me?'

'With her dying breath. She also gave me this (showing a diamond cross) for Juliana.'

Francis took the cross and looked at it. On the back were engraved the words, 'Watch over thy soul, and pray for the dead.' Francis read them aloud; then murmured them to himself; and then again crossing himself, sunk back upon his pillow.

'You come upon a painful business, Otto,' said Francis, after a long pause; 'Juliana tells me that your mother sent you to me to learn some secret. but I can tell you nothing.'

'Nothing!' exclaimed the Count, in a