The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. ‘unless you be perfectly willing to ac- cord it. At the same time I beseech you, as a friend, not to suffer any senti- ment of foolish pride, or bashfulness, or reserve, to prevent you from invoking my aid if there be any way ir which | can serve you. Do you need gold, Ange- la? if so, my purse is at your disposal, anditis by no means indiffere ntly filled. Do youre quire good counsel or advice ? | though younger than yourself in y ears, I am nevertheless older in experience. ‘Gracious lady, it appears almost rude already and uncourteous on my part to say Nay | toevery generous proposal which comes from your lips,’ said Angela, her voice and manner alike proving how deeply splring she was affected by (Jloria’s demonstra- | tion of friendship : ‘but believe me when I assure you that [I am well provided with gold, and that in the objects which have brought me to Prague | am guided by competent advice and full instruc- tions.’ ‘Then will I press my services upon you no longer,’ said Gloria, forest-maiden’s hand and clasping it with kindly warmth ‘ Nevertheless, there is one piece of advice which circum- stances induce me to give you, my dear friend,’ she continued, her tone and manner becoming suddenly both grave and serious. ‘Father Cyprian whom you have met, and who was heretofore known to me by another name. that no matter , ‘You are ill, dear lady!’ exclaimed Angela, perceiving how suddenly the color came and went on Gloria’s cheeks, 1? and how the radiant being’s hand trem- | ™ ‘thanks for that deliverance from a wa- bled in her own. ‘+No—no— it is nothing—nothing,’ said Gloria, recovering her presence of mind by a sudden and vigorous effort. ‘But I would counsel you, my dear Angela,’ she continued, with a singular and earnest emphasis, * to avoid “that man as you would a pestilence: and should an imperious necessity or uncon- But of SS TS taking the counsel g 175 pears to be connected with some tribu- nal as terrible as it is mysterious, the Tribunal of the Bronze Statue !’ ‘Ah! what know you of that awful institution ?’ demanded Gloria, suddenly becoming pale as death, while the lustre of her magnificent eyes grew restlessly glittering and uneasily feverish, so that their glances were painful to meet. ‘I know nothing of the institution,’ responded Angela, fearful that she had said too much, and remember- ing her promise of secrecy to the White Lady respecting everything she saw im the subterraneans of Altendorf Castle. ‘But there appears to be an awe-in- presentiment attached to the mere name of that tribunal——’ ‘Yes: truly!’ observed Gloria: then for a few minutes the ate creature remained wrapped in % t_ profound and. evidently painful reverie. ‘* Angela,’ she at length said, awaking from. her meditations and recove ring all her wont- ed composure, ‘ you will not neglect the [ have given you, for better were it to become enfolded in the coils of a serpent, than to place yourself in the power of that man whom you know as Father Cyprian. And now,” dear friend, since you are determined to de- part, | will say farewell.’ Thus speaking, the beauteous Gloria embraced the forest-maiden, who im- ‘mediately afterwards quitted the Castle. She proceeded straightway to the 'Golden Falcon, where she inguired for Sir Earnest de Colmar, to whom she was anxious to proffer her renewed ‘tery grave which she owed to him. But ‘she learned from ‘Templin that the Knight had been absent an hour or two ; controllable circumstances again throw you together, I charge you not to trust yourself to his guidance in any matter —but on the contrary, to follow the eourse which shall be precisely opposite to the one he may recommend. And above all, accept not the any friend of whom he may speak.’ ‘I thank you, dear lady,’ said Angela, hospitality of ‘most sincerely thank you for this ad-| vice, which I shall assuredly follow to | the very letter. I was already prepared to mistrust that man—for many reasons, and the worthy landlord likewise ob- served that he knew it was his Excel- lency’s intention to take his departure early the next morning, on his return to Austria. This announcement carried a sudden gloom to the heart of Angela, she scarce- ly knew why: and for nearly a minute did she remain silent, in an attitude of profound thought. At length, starting trom her reverie, she exclaimed, | “hope to have the pleasure of seeing his Excellency for a few moments in the morning previous tohisdeparture. but if anything should occur to prevent the accomplishment of this desire—which is also a duty on my part—do you, Messer T'emplin, as- but for none more than because he ap-| sure his Excellency that the prayers of Comicbooks.com “f