Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 3).djvu/217

 for this politeness; told him, their stay would be short, and that they had friends with them.

"If your friends will accept of the same accommodations I can offer you, gentlemen," said the Baron, "they are heartily at their service; and I feel so much interest and curiosity to know by what means you preserved your lives, when your death was generally credited, that I really cannot relinquish my earnest wish to have you inmates of my mansion. Come, come," added he, seeing they hesitated, and looked at each other, you know I am in possession of your promise to pay me a visit, and I now claim the performance of it."

This obliging earnestness was irresistible, and they readily accorded with the request, assuring him, that they would wait of him in the evening. Taking the Baron's address with his invitation to their friends, they parted with him for the present, and returned with speed to Heli. Before they rejoined him, Ferdinand observed, "that he could