FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102  
103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   >>   >|  
it on the table before him. One glance was sufficient to show him that it was a reproduction of an old photograph of himself, taken by a London firm of photographers shortly after he had joined his regiment. Underneath was printed "_The Missing Crown Prince of Pannonia_." As Max looked at it, he felt himself grow deadly pale. A great fear lest it should be noticed swept over him, and for a moment, do what he would, he could not recover his self-control. At last, almost by a superhuman effort, he managed to get himself in hand, and, while pretending to look more closely at the picture, said: "All things considered, it is not a bad likeness, is it? I wonder if I were to go to England, and pretend to be the original, whether they would let me take his place in society. He does not look so tall as I am, but the likeness is certainly remarkable." "So like that, without a very great stretch of imagination, we might even take it to be the same person," said Maraquinha suspiciously. "Permit me to see it?" said Brockford, stretching his arm across the table. The paper was accordingly handed to him, and he studied it attentively. "What do you think of it?" asked Max, who felt as if a cold hand were being placed upon his heart. "I'm afraid the likeness doesn't strike me as being such a good one," he answered, more to shield Max, I fancy, than for any other reason. "Judging from this picture, I should say the eyes of the Crown Prince must have been of a different colour to yours, and his hair would certainly not be so dark. However, dark or fair, it is time we were thinking of making a start for the island. Good-night, Senor Montezma; Senora and Senoritas, I have the honour to bid you good-night; your hospitality has charmed us." Max followed his example, and five minutes later they were on their way back to the beach. The journey back to the island that evening was a silent one. Max, for one, had more than sufficient wherewith to occupy his mind. The existence of the portrait had come to him as a decided shock. It had roused suspicions in other people's minds that years might not be able to allay. He had begun to think himself free of the old life and to feel convinced that it would never influence him again. And now, here it was, rising like a ghost of the past, to confront him at the very moment when a life of peaceful happiness seemed within his grasp. When they reached the island they left the launch and
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102  
103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
island
 

likeness

 

moment

 

picture

 

sufficient

 
Prince
 
thinking
 

making

 
happiness
 

Senoritas


honour

 

confront

 
Senora
 

Montezma

 
peaceful
 

Judging

 
reason
 
launch
 

answered

 

shield


reached

 

colour

 

However

 

hospitality

 

occupy

 

existence

 

portrait

 

wherewith

 

evening

 

silent


decided

 
people
 

suspicions

 

roused

 

journey

 
convinced
 

charmed

 
rising
 

influence

 
minutes

person
 

recover

 
control
 
noticed
 

pretending

 

closely

 
things
 

superhuman

 
effort
 

managed