Wilten glanced around. They were standing at the end of the long gallery, and at that moment no one was near enough to overhear their words. The Colonel went on in a low tone:
"You should not, however, absolutely challenge danger. It is most imprudent for you to go into the town on foot and unaccompanied, no measures being taken to ensure your safety. I wanted to speak to your Excellency about it before, to beg you to desist from such ventures. We do not know whether the mob may not be systematically incited to violence. The whole burgher class is leagued together against you."
"So much the better," said Raven, mechanically, his eyes still riveted on one particular spot in the scene before them.
The Colonel gave a little start of surprise.
"Your Excellency?"
The movement recalled the Baron to himself. He turned quickly to his interlocutor.
"Pardon me, I am somewhat absent. I ... I hardly followed you. What were we saying?"
"I was begging you to have more regard for your personal safety."
"Ah! yes. You must excuse my inattention. A man, who is daily called on to give his mind to a hundred different matters, has some difficulty in shaking off the cobwebs, even on a festive occasion like the present."
"Really, the load of work you take on yourself is quite too heavy," observed the Colonel. "The most enduring strength must break down at last beneath such a constant strain. Look at those enviable young people yonder, who have no suspicion as yet of all these cares. They dance, and laugh, and chatter, and are happy among themselves."