"Nor to this, either?"
Gabrielle pointed to the ribbon on his breast. The order the Baron wore was one of the highest in the land, and was conferred only in very exceptional cases.
"Nor to this either," said Raven, quietly; "though I would not willingly renounce the one or the other. External splendour should mark the seat of power. To the generality of men, greatness is embodied in these outward symbols; they should, therefore, be taken into due account. I have never lost sight of this, but my efforts have been directed to other aims."
"Which you have attained, like everything else in life."
The Baron was silent for a few seconds. His eyes rested with an enigmatical expression on the young girl's face. At length he answered her:
"I have attained much--not everything."
"Do you want to mount still higher?" asked Gabrielle, in naïve surprise.
He smiled. "No; this time I should like to retrograde twenty years."
"But, tell me, why?"
"That I might be young again. I have felt sometimes of late that ... I am growing old."