The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

r : ; : ; | Ut it ; | ¥ +t ~~ ————— a re Fe 16 THE BRONZE STATUE. ally nothing to complain of, he said, ‘ Has —and evidently of well knit and symme- your lordship any message or letter for the | trical proportions, in spite of the disfiguring Baron of Altendorf 2? nature of the Carthusian garb, which was a ‘I am disposed to ava‘l myself, Sir| long, loose, black woollen gown, gathered in. Knight, of your kindness,’ responded the|at the waist by athick cord. ‘The cowl, young nobleman, placing a small sealed| though now thrown entirely back, was | packet in his hand. made, so that it might be drawn completely | ‘It shall be delivered faithfully,’ observ-| over the face; and to the rope which form- ed Sir Ernest, securing it about his person. | ed I’ather Cyprian’s girdle, were suspended Then, taking his leave of Lord Rodolph, | a rosary and ascourge. On his feet he the Knight descended to the court-yard,| wore sanuals of the coarsest description where he mounted his horse ; and, followed | —and thus far his appearance denoted a by the two pages—each bestriding a spirit-| rigid austerity of habits and discipline. ed steed—Sir Ernest de Colmar rodeslow-| But the experienced eye of Sir Ernest de ly across the drawbridge of Altendorf Castle. | C.lmar was not be deceived by the rough- iness of the monk’s dress and the conspi- }cuous manner in which the knotted and ~ — CHAPTER V | blood-stained scourge was displayed to . | é Am view. Forin Father Cyprian’s features, | | which were strikingly handsome, the traces of strong passions might be read; Tue noon-day sun was cloudless in the| sensuality was marked in every Ii azure sky, when Sir Ernest de Colmar, at- neament:—and, notwithstanding his stu- tended by his pages, reached a point where | died endeavor to mantain a coid demeanor, g narfower pathway intersected the broad | the peculiar expression of the lips and the road stretching on to the Bohemian capital. | sinister light that gleaned in his large grey At this spot there stood a small chapel—a|eyes, plainly denoted that his thoughts mere hut, rudely constructed, and contain- | were far more of a worldly description | ing a miniature altar, with a crucifix and than he wished them to appeat. His age four candlesticks. But the steps were well| was about forty ; his complexion was pale worn by the knees of those pious way-| —but his lips were full, and of a bright farers who were accustomed to pause for a | red; and his hair of a dark chesnut, with few minutes and perform their devotions at| a small patch shaven off on the crown, was this resting place, in the close vicinity of| long and curled naturally. which a pearly stream went rippling by. {| Such was Father Cyprian, the Carthu- As Sir Ernest approached the chapel, he| sian; and the first impression which he beheld a monk praying before the altar|)thus made upon the Knight was by no and the ecclesiasti , who by his garb be-| means favorable: indeed, Sir Ernest re- longed to the Carthusian order, rose from | solved to treat him witha really prudential his suppliant posture the moment the| reserve, although with a becoming cour- sounds of horses’ hoofs fell upon his ears. | tesy. ‘This is father Cyprian, said Konrad, as, ‘These are troublous times, holy father,’ he caught a glimpse of the holy man’s| said the Knight, beginning the conversation: countenance, which was nevertheless half|‘and it behoves every man to display shaded by his sombre cowl. proper credentials to the eyes of those The monk at the same time recognised | with whom he seeks to transact affairs of the young page who had just spoken . | weight and importance. My page has and flinging back the dark hood, heac-jalready informed you who | am, and costed the Knight, observing, ‘1 presume | that I travel as a trusty agent in the ser-~ that your Excellency is Sir Ernest de Col-) vice of his tiighness Albert of Austria.’ mar ?” | | ‘Were you not thus employed by that t ‘A reply was given In the affirmative ;| illustrious Prince,’ responded Cyprian, ‘you ima and the Knight dismounting, trem his} could not have known whither to send your at steed, and throwing the reins to one of his| page in search of me. But what has his youthful dependants, walked aside in com-| Highness the Duke empowered you to say pany with the priest. (Gaining the bank of| to me ?” ; the rivulet, they seated themselve inthe| ‘His Highness commanded me to show refreshing shade of a large tree; and the| you the very letter whi¢h you yourself des- brief delay afforded by the movement, ere | patched to him, and which would serve as they .entered upon the business of the in-| a proof that I am the representative of his ) terview, gave Sir Ernest ce Colmar an| Highness, answered De Colmar: then ‘opportunity of observing the personal ap-| drawing forth a document from the bosom pearance of lather Cyprian. |of his doublet, he said, ‘This ; He was a tall man—remarkably upright | writing, ’ iS 18 your —<_ or om ———— <— — _—— -— eee e+ we THE CARTHUSIAN PRIEST. ee al he ph Sd tee et te —— « ve ~ - ~~~ E War cr i 20 eye ° — Wee ® iat “7 4:3 mi te ae SRE LE é SEK SB o~wes =e a Tw? + ae “ e- COMICDOOKS.-COl : 4] as — > + ho 7 a - * a - - — - - - we - a a) ee Pre” 9 ee eee |) Qa te ee Oe . So LO wr Ee a ae = a = _—