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Penny Dreadfuls, 1850 · page 164 of 400

The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 164: what you’re looking at

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The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 164: Penny Dreadfuls, 1850

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. . + wrwarwew se > — « pam = « H - os ~abd - - - — 7. eee mH er ee —e eee > P - = Ne = — 2 oe. oe ee — —— —— o i I ie it iL“ f r of 4 t e) “I bd = = * = 4 f . 2 —— < = iJ . = A we ~*~ re - _ *? -* - — on-set /-> ee + ¢ oe’ — - »~ = a _-— eT ee er Oe : . = - ° ~ Bs -- _- > = — en eT ey, - . - 4 uvr?. , a — - ™ e —> 3 - — . ==," ==... “8 4 — _ - Ra os + > =~ ws ~~ = ~ ee. cs Ti VT sa t F WE : wee ene e ba! a HI oT : : ? ‘ | He rt - ip@ | ; : ' . : 7.2%, ' NOP Set ee “-* i — - - ———— oe gy eee ~~ ae —_——V—————<. -——- 162 claimed life and hope to those two boys who an instant before were preparing | 4 | for death? and were the three brothers | ; . Re | anguish; and, having thus felicitated ‘each other, they embraced the old stew- who had just thrown off the cloaks, men having a friendly disposition and a be- neyolent purpose, instead of being the accursed instruments of a vague and terrible vengeance? Oh! it was indeed the truth, it was no delusion! ‘Those tears that rolled down Hubert’s’ cheeks, and the kind manner and reassuring looks with which the brothers approached the youths,— all denoted that some signal change, as wondrous as it was at present unac- countable, had taken place in their des- tiny. ‘Pardon us, dear youths, pardon me and my companions here,’ exclaimed the old steward, ‘for the misery, the torture, and the anguish which we have made you endure! But it was necessary to sustain certain ances in the presence of those two ruf- fians who were ere now with us and who are the agents of a diabolical sys- tem whereof you will learn more here-| | passage, Hubert pressed a spring 1m that ufter.’ ‘But the Bronze Statue,’ demanded | Lionel, still scarcely able to credit his ears and his eyes, ‘is if a meaningless thing, associated with threats that are uttered only to alarm and never put in- | this stone portal was closed, it fitted to execution 2’ ‘Alas! alas! would that it were indeed as harmless and as innocent as you im- agine !’ exclaimed Hubert. these walls could speak, if this solid masonry could send forth articulate sounds, what appalling tales there be to tell !’ appear- | would | lard THE BRONZE STATUE. threw themselves into each other’s arms and wept for joy, as ere now they had sobbed in the bitterness of their heart’s and the three brethren in their turns, pouring forth at the same time ‘the most fervent expressions of grati- : ’ ‘tude and thankfulness. | When the excitement of the sudden and most unexpected deliverance had found itself a vent in this gush of feel- ings, Hubert said to them, * Fair youths, ve have doubtless had enough of this terrible place; follow me, and although Lam not about to conduct you to any great distance, it will at all events be to a more pleasant chamber than the one where you have undergone so much ex- cruciating mental torture.’ Thus speaking, the old steward led the way from the circular chapel, notby the door conducting into the Chamber of the Statue, but by the one facing it, This latter door, as the reader will re- member, communicated with a vaulted corridor. But, instead of threading the part of the wall immediately facing the entrance to the circular chamber: anda mass of the. solid masonry instantly opened in the form of a door; a contr vance so admirably arranged that when with such tightness and accuracy in its setting, that nothing short of the most ‘Oh! if: searching scrutiny aided by a previousl exciting suspicion, that some suc means of communication existed in that very spot, could possibly detect it. And the old man writhed visibly un- | der the influence of the thoughts which. now crowded in upon his brain ; and the perspiration burst forth in large drops upon his forehead. CHAPTER XLI. THE BROTHERHAOOD: ‘T see that I have distressed you by | my query,’ exclaimed Lionel, hastening to take Hubert’s hand and press it cor- dially; ‘ whereas I ought to testify the most heartfelt gratitude towards you for the hope to which yorr lips have given utterance! Buttell me once more that our lives are saved ‘God forbid that I should injure a hair of your head!’ cried the old steward, profoundly affected. ‘Not for worlds should you sustain wrong or violence at our hands,’ said the three brothers, speaking as it were in the same breath. Then Lionel and Konrad, no longer THe apartment into which this door of solid masonry opened, was spacious and lofty. At the farther extremity there were four long narrow loop-holes, protected inside with wooden shades, sloping upward from the bottom part of each aperture, so that while a free cur- rent of air was admitted from these loop-holes, the room was protected from any disagreeable draught. Another ad- vantage arising from the arrangement of the shades, was that, inasmuch as they looked upon the moat at the back part of the castle, no one walking upon the opposite bank could possibly see doubting that they were indeed spared, | into the chamber which we are describ- comicbooks.com