The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

to the vicinage - i A 2 *, 202 THE BRON tion of the three noble hostages! Y¥ es, the feeling is natural on your part ; and [ repeat that [can understand it well. But, ah! a reminiscence strikes me!’ he suddenly exclaimed; and, as the moonlight streamed full upon his hand- some countenance, both Ermach and Angela,could perceive, the latter even through the bars of her helmet, that an expression of mingled embarrassment and vexation suddenly sprang up and spread over his features. ‘Something has transpired in your | excellency’s thoughts to interfere with the arrangements suggested,’ said An- gela, speaking with a calm dignity, which had in it nothing of either re- monstrance or anger. ‘lregret that I should have even alluded to the project of accompanying your excellency.’ ‘Heavens! let me not be misunder- stood,’ exclaimed De Colmar. ‘ Our plan relative to the travelling together was so far settled that you promised to favor me with your society at least un- yf Altendort Castle.— Leaving then, to another opportunity, the pleasing endeavor to persuade you to accompany me all the way to Vien- na,—l must now remind you that we were speaking of the bright armor which becomes you so admirably.’ ‘True !’ ejaculated Angela, relieved from the idea that it was her compa- nionship in the projected journey which had suddenly assumed. an embarrassing aspect to the knight’s views. ‘And you intimated your desire to re- tain the panoply,’ continued Sir Ernest de Colmar. ‘ But,—oh! deem not that any idle vanity on my part prompts the wish,’ exclaimed the forest-maiden, who real- | panoply ‘phy of your grand exploit. NZE STATUE. ‘One word will explain it,’ responded Sir Ernest de Colmar. ‘The lady who is to accompany me has been dw elling tor the last tew days in the Castle of Prague ; she may therefore have visited the armory, and, if this be the case, she might have marked the particular suit of armor which you have since taken thence, and which constitutes the tro- Suppose, then, that she was to recognise this ? ‘But whois the lady that you have spoken of!’ asked Angela, nerving her- self with all her courage to receive that |answer ot the nature of which she was ly resolved to keep the armor as a dis-_ suise and not as atrophy. ‘T think that I have already compre- hended and explained the feeling which | influences you, my brave young friend,’ | said De Colmar. ‘And now | must tell you the objection which suddenly rosé up in my mind——’ ‘An objection?’ repeated Angela, wondering what it could possibly be. ‘Yes, an objection,’ resumed the knight, ‘and one which will convince you that it will at least be necessary for you to lay aside the armor and have it packed for conveyance along with such baggage as may be taken by myself and the ‘lady whom Iam to escort to Vi- enna.’ ‘And this objection ! said Angela, in | already forewarned by a presentiment ; then, instantly perceiving that her ques- tion must have the appearance of be- ing dictated by an impertinent curiosi- ty, she said, ‘ For methought that only those ladies who belong to the aborite sect could possibly find admission toa fortress which has become the head- quarters ot General Zitzka.’ ‘And you are theretore surprised that | should undertake to escort a ‘l‘aborite lady to Vienna?’ said De Colmar, lau: hing ; but instantly remembering the compact by virtue of which he was under the necessity of conducting Glo- ria to the Austrian capital, his counte- nance resumed a sombre aspect with a 'suddenness that tailed not to strike the forest-maiden. ‘It nevertheless is a fact,’ he continued, in a voice the gloom of which corresponded with the cloud upon his features, ‘that lam bound to escort a ‘l'aborite lady to Vienna. And this lady, with her two attendants, will meet me soon after sunrise, at the southern gate of the city; you there- fore perceive that time is wearing on and becoming precious, for it must be now halt-past one o’clock ‘At least,’ observed Ermach. ‘But the lady? said the forest-maid- en, anxious to have the last shadow of uncertainty dissipated; for the men- tion of the two attendants had elevated almost to a conviction the suspicion which she had previously entertained. ‘The lady to whom I allude,’ said De Colmar, ‘bears the romantic but beautiful name of Gloria.’ ‘| have heard of her,’ remarked the forest-maiden, in alow tone and after a few moments pause. * But rumor declares that beauteous lady to be of a generous disposition and a noble nature, and | shall not therefore lay aside mine armor on heraecount. Unless, indeed,’ a tone of somewhat impatient inquiry. | added our heroine hastily, as a sudden comicbooks.com a ae —