The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 1st Rosenberg, taking the maiden’s gaunt- | same malignant feeling and fatal intent letted hand. ‘My eternal gratitude |—did Angela spring upon the unsuspect- shall be your due; not so much on ac-|ing soldier. The suddenness of the count of the advantage which I may | attack and the skill with which it was derive from this chivalrous act itself, but on account of the noble feelings which have dictated your conduct.’ made, overpowered him in an instant: and thus was the stalwart sentinel! ‘hurled upon his back by one whose ‘Oh! my lord, you have already suffi- | strength, if met at the moment by only ciently rewarded me; or rather, you| common resistance, would have been have established so many claims upon| utterly inadequate to the achievement my gratitude,’ exclaimed Angela, ‘ by | of such a feat. your unvaried kindness towards the good Scarcely was he thus overthrown, Wildon and his wife, that I am prepared | when Angela’s knee was upon his breast to die if my death would serve you. But | and her dagger gleaming within a few we must not linger here a moment long- | inches of his face; while in the same er than is absolutely necessary ; every instant is precious! ’ instant, she said ina rapid, low, but resolute voice, ‘Silence, if you value- Scarcely had she finished speaking | your life !’ when the Marquis of Schomberg and the Baron of Altendorf entered the cell ; ‘The noise of the armed man’s heavy fall upon the paved floor had reached and the three nobleman congratulated | the ears of the three nobles, who were each other upon the prospect of escape | waiting at the head of the staircase in that had suddenly opened to their view, | anxious expectation of this incident; for although they were as yet totally unacquainted with Angela’s intentions or arrangements, still there was such an air of confidence in the manner and proceedings of their youthful friend that they caught the inspiration of that cou- rage and hopefulness which were thus so signally displayed on her part. The chances and mode of their flight were now communicated to them in a | few hasty words; and no objection was offered to the plan which Angela had thus chalked out. The three powerful nobles were thus satisfied to entrust themselves to the direction and care of one whom they took to be a gallant young man, but who was in reality only a woman, though with a chivalrous heart and a ready arm! The heroine’s arrangements having been imparted, as just observed, to the _ prisoners, no time was now lost in car- rying them into execution. ‘lhe three nobles remained at the head of the staircase, the door of which Angela pre- tended to fasten, although she only raised a din by closing it violently and turning the key in the lock, leaving it ajar after all. She then descended the flight of stone steps, traversed the hall, and accosted the sentinel, saying, ‘Here is the key, for which I thank you.’ ‘Your visit was not a long one, my pretty page,’ observed the ‘Taborite sol- dier; and while thus speaking, he de- posited his halberd upon a bench in or- der to secure the ponderous key to a ring attached to his belt. Then, with the velocity and unerring dexterity of a tigress—but without the and now that their young deliverer’s plan of proceeding had been thus far successfully crowned by so daring an exploit, they rushed to her assistance. The sentinel, perceiving that he was the victim of some admirably devised’ stratagem, and naturally supposing that instantaneous death would be the re-. sult of any attempt to raise an alarm, yielded to necessity and maintained & sullen silence. Nor did he offer the least resistance when Angela com- manded him to rise and proceed to one of the cells whence the State prisoners had just been liberated. ‘hither was he accordingly escorted by the virgin heroine and her three noble compan- ions; and when they had safely de- posited him in the chamber so lately occupied by the Marquis of Schomberg, they drew the bolt upon him and re- traced their way down into the hall. To open the door and pass forth into the yard was now the work of a few moments. All was still, and no enemy was to be seen in the clear moonlight, Angela threw up a hasty glance towards the windows of Gloria’s apartments, but no lamps shone through those lattices now; and the maiden murmured to herself, ‘May’st thou pardon me, my generous friend, for the evil manner in which I have requited thine hospitality !’ Opening the grating, she conducted the three nobles along the dark passage leading to the armory, where the lamp was still burning in the place in which she had deposited it. The Marquis of Schomberg, the comicbooks.com ze & pL mere + ed Pe ee eee ee a eee > aS Sa te « = Fa = _ he ~ te he ea |. 4 n -* aso .* re ~ 4 = _* 7 * +. me . ; » ’ q 5 | 3? ™ » ~ mem be ¢ °