The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 157: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- , — a * Py tos x ee i THE BRONZE STATUE. 155 ee ° wee ev mene ~~ —— ; a a ae mits of ready explanation. In the first| not that he is an honest man in other place, let me assure your Reverence |respects, nor gainsays the imputation that neither my fellow-page nor myself | which I have affirmed against him.’ were acquainted with any circumstance ‘Oh! reverend father.’ said Lrtonefl, that concerns the alleged unmasking of | letting the reins fall on the horse’s neck eur beloved chieftain; nor were we|and joining his hands with exceeding aware that he had ever encountered, | earnestness of gesture, ‘if | were to much less escaped from, any such pert | reveal to your ears a startling truth, as that mysterious and vaguely under-;would you not forego that vengeance stood danger which is associated with}which you have threatened to wreak the name of the Bronze Statue. Thus/ upon my companion and myself? And far, everything your Reverence has | in thus seeking to save our lives, in stated is new to us. But of that no| making you acquainted with that truth matter. For the point to which it be- | to which I have alluded, in confiding to hoves me to direct the attention of your|you a secret of the grandest impor- Reverence, is the aspersion you have} tance, | am well assured that my much- thrown on our revered master, than|loved master will pardon me, for he wvhom‘there breathes not a nobler chief- | himself is kind, and good, and merciful tain nora mightier hero in Christen-;—and humble as Konrad and myself dom.’ ‘are, he would not allow a hair of our ‘Silence, false-speaking youths!’ ex- | head to be injured! claimed Father Cyprian. ‘ No words ‘What mean you! Speak! ex- of thine can outweigh the facts which|claimed Father Cyprian, surveying the proclaim your master an impostor, an| young page with mingled wonder and adventurer, and a cheat! Why, your|curiosity. ‘But beware,’ he added, very presence in the mansion where|immediately afterwards, his manner the Princess of Bohemia dwells fur-|losing its interest and his tone its ex- nishes another proof of your chief’s|citement, ‘beware, | say, how you duplicity. Despite of the oath which | trifle with me, for you know not the he swore to me never to betray, even if | tremendous power which I wield!’ he should discover, the place where her| ‘ No, no, I am not trifling with your royal highness had found an asylum, he | reverence !’ cried the elder page. ‘ But sent you thither this secret must be breathed to your ‘As heaven is our witness,’ ejaculat- | ears alone ; and those men ; ed Lionel solemnly, ‘Sir Ernest de Col-| ‘ They cannot hear a syllable of our mar gave us no clue to that mansion. discourse,’ said Father Cyprian, ap- Weare even at this moment uaacquain- | proaching close to Lionel, who bent ted with its situation; we know not its | forward on his saddle, for the priest, be locality. Introduced thither blindfolded | it recollected, was on foot all this time, —in the first instance by an old woman/|he having dismounted in the first in- who invited us to accompany her—in | stance to obtain a nearer view of the the second instance by the lady of the|corpse of Dame Martha. ‘And now mansion herself -—’ speak! what is the profound mystery ‘Ah! is all this the real truth?’ ex- |—what is the secret to which you have claimed the Carthusian, fixing his eyes | alluded ?” penetratingly upon Lionel fora few mo-| ‘Draw nearer, holy father,—nearer ments—then turning them with the still,’ said Lionel, ‘for the revelation same keenness of observation upon| which I am about to make, must not Konrad. ‘But the old woman of whom | even be trusted to the breeze nor to the you have spoken echo. In a word, Sir Ernest de Col- ‘Lies there, a corpse!’ answered the | mar elder page, who was acting as spokes-| And the young page finished his sen- man throughout this colloguy; 2nd his| tence in the lowest possible whisper. response was given with a promptitude| ‘Ah! by heaven—I understand it corresponding with the firmness andj|all!’ exclaimed the Carthusian, with a decision that marked the sincerity of | start the suddenness of which indicated all nis observutions. how completely he was wonder-stricken ‘Be it, then, as you say,’ exclaimed|by the secret he had that moment the priest, ‘be it granted that you ob-jlearnt. ‘ Yes, all is clear and intel- tained not admission to the mansion|ligible now! Fool, fool that I was not through any promptings derived from '|to suspect the real truth!’ the lips of the individual calling himself} ‘ And now your reverence will spare Sir Ernest de Colmar; the fact proves! Konrad and myself?’ said Lionel a <> .* _ « > ir ee ~~ a _— . *- - -f . Sete | i i - ee re eed ee i ae ~. * - ae. ae rr Sed * ~ : * ) lie a 7 errr mr rr TT A a : , 4 } ; comicbooks.com