Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 4).djvu/124

 hearing from Ferdinand; indeed all grew impatient at his silence, as they only waited to hear of his arrival and situation to fix on a day for following him.

Baron Reiberg had received a letter from his steward that the valet was safe with him, and appeared to be a very good sort of a man. This indefinite term was not misapplied to him, for he had a few good traits in his character, which, if he had belonged to a better master, might have made him a valuable servant; for he was strictly faithful to him, and made his inclinations and conscience subservient to what he thought was his duty to his employer; unfortunately he had not understanding, or strength of mind, to distinguish between that duty, and what he owed to himself and society, the consequence of that slavery and vassalage, which the German Lords exact from their poor tenantry and servants.

Ferdinand had been gone now ten days, no news was received, and they were ex-