The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

- . ——. » lf eee > _# * —™= *- = ~ ~ ay s+ Bs “* © «@y = ee ad » on ' ~_ -— — oo gees: *---— «= od . = —~ a he - Aber es , 7. | ep 2 a “= o> S52 *> ~ ae. z Se? t— J age a —_— (oes ey as a . = < = Ls Se kh Pe tinh G ‘2 = Soa - . > > aa ~ , . . ~ « Oe ~ .- J ‘" « , oto aes . 7 . « ° 172 THE BRONZE STATUE. of it to the White Mansion, was atthe| ‘ The Baroness Hemelen,’ responded time much vexed and annoyed that a + olnpit, lady of whom he had hitherto spoke n ‘"Vhank heaven!’ ejaculated De Col- so highly, should treat his distinguished |mar; and rushing away from the land- guest with such indignity. 'lord, who was startled by the sudden- This little incident had not failed to | ness and surprised by the fervor of the enter as a link into the chain of reason- ejaculation, the knight hurried in the ing that had brought Sir Ernest de Col- same direction as that taken by the Ba- .mar to the conclusion above narrated ; | roness. for it was clear enough thatthe baroness| But in a few minutes he relaxed his would not willingly receive the knight} speed: for he observed her traversing as a visitor at that mansion which he|the bridge over the Moldau, two well- could not fail to recognise as the one| clad female dependents following at a whither he had already been introduced | respectful distance. by~Father Cyprian; and as her Jady-| ‘The baroness was elegantly attired; ship was unable to discover any legiti- | anda veil flowed loosely over her shoul- mate reason for declining the interview | ders, without concealing her counte- so courteously solicited, she had been| nance. Her fine figure, queen-like compelled to adopt the ruder alterna-| gait, and imposing though graceful de- tive of leaving the billet unnoticed al- | meanor, instantly struck the observation together. of the knight; and when he succeeded At least, thus thought Sir Ernest de/ in overtaking her, just as she emerged Colmar; and, while referring to the in | fromthe br idge into the adjoining street, cident just related, he asxed himself} he perceived at a glance that her coun- how he could possibly expect that the | tenance was of a “noble beauty, admi- Baroness Hamelen would. now grant! rably corresponding with the fine sym- him the audience which he had sovain- | metry of her form. ly demanded on the former occasion. ‘Is it possible that such a woman can It was by no means likely; and as io| be associated with the murderous mis- forcing his way into her presence, such | creants of a secret tribunal?’ was the a measure might be more easily medi- | question which now instantaneously tated than executed. ‘The bravos whom | suggested itself to the mind of Sir Er- she most likely had at her command, | nest de Colmar. would perhaps overpower him; and But he had not a moment’s leisure to thus his rashness would only seal 3 resolve what its answer should be, for SSS sls own fate without serving bis lost pages. | the Baroness Hamelen, who on her side Such was the cruel dilemmain which | had been struck by the handsome fea- Sir Ernest de Colmar found himself| tures and noble bearing of the knight, placed; and the fifth day was. gliding | the very instant that her eyes caught past, hour by hour, without any plan| sight of him, suddenly let her veil de- being resolved upon. ‘Though deter-| tach itself from her person, whether ac- mined to act, he knew not how to be-| cidentally or purposely we must leave gin: the campaign’ was fixed upon, but | the reader to conjecture. the difficulty was to open it. ‘To spring after the richly-worked Sunset was drawing nigh, and the/| lace, as a gentle zephyr bore it along to warrior was issuing forth from the|a short distance, was naturally the in- Golden Falcon, with the desperate re-|stantaneous impulse of Sir Ernest de solution of repairing straightway to the | Colmar; and, having speedily recover- White Mansion, and trusting the re-| ed the volatile fugitive, he hastened to mainder of the adventure to chance, | present it to her ladyship. ‘when he was stopped by the worthy} With an unmistakeable expression of ‘Jandlord, who was lounging on the| mingled pleasure and tenderness in the threshold of his establishment. look which she threw upon the knight, ‘Pardon me, your excellency, for my | and with a blush at the same time mant- presumption,’ said Master ‘l'’emplin;| ling her cheeks, the baroness received *but methought you would like to know | the veil and threw it gracefully over her who that majestic-looking lady is, now | head ; then, instantly raising it from be- turning into yon street leading towards | fore her countenance, she said, ‘ May I the bridge.’ inquire to whom I am indebted for this ‘And who may she be?’ inquired De| act of courtesy and chivalrous atten- Colmar, all his veins tingling with the | tion ?’ presentiment that suddenly sprang up) ‘I amcalled Sir Louis de Hazburgh,’ in his mind. promptly responded the knight, secret- comicbooks.com