The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 247 ‘O adorable Gloria!’ murmured the| a moment’s leisure to question Ermach page, and pressing her hand to his lips, he hurried from the room. For a few minutes longer did the Daughter of Glory remain in her apart- ment in order to compose her counte- nance and tranquillise her thoughts,— and when she descended to the parlor where the supper was at that moment being served up, it would have been impossible for even the must &attentive observer of human nature to perceive any traces of that storm which had so recently passed over her soul. A copious repast was spread upon a large table, in the middle of which stood a huge pewter saltseller. Above this utensil, which in those times was a line of demarcation between gentility and dependancy, the Daughter of Glory and De Colmar were seated; while at the lower end of the board, Ermach and the two damsels took their places. An- gela Wildon, be it recollected, had re- tired to her own chamber. Between the Austrian knight and Gloria the conversation turned upon the various salient points of the scenery through which their journey had led them during the day; but an almost to- tal silence prevailed at the other extre- mity of the table. For on the one hand Ermach was absorbed in the vo- luptuous reflections with which he feasted his fancy; and, on the other hand, Linda and Beatrice were both a prey to the deepest melancholy on ac- count of Lionel and Konrad, whose mysterious disappearance had been communicated to them by Ermach dur- ing the day. Shortly after supper, the party broke up; and the travellers retired to their respective apartments. But, though somewhat fatigued with travelling, especially as he had enjoyed no rest on the previous night, Sir Er- nest de Colmar nevertheless felt not the least inclination to seek his couch.— Opening the window, he gazed forth into the moon-lit night; and for nearly half an hour did he remain at the case- /ment, giving way to the various reflec- tions which crowded in upon his brain. Deeply, deeply did he regret that stern necessity which had compelled him to leave Prague to a day and an hour, without haviag discovered the fate of his two pages, and also without hav- ing been enabled to lend tbe slightest succor to the Princess Elizabetha; and as his thoughts fell into this channel, it 5 struck him that he had not as yet found LT NL LL TC I tt relative to the character, proceedings, and pursuits of the inmates of the White Mansion. He remembered that the Baroness Hamelen, when he first encountered her in the streets of Prague, had spoken of the delights and fascinations of her mansion; he recollected also that Er- mach had denounced it as an accursed place when beseeching the knight to take him thence, and he was moreover well convinced that it was the head- quarters of the terrible band belonging to the tribunal of the Bronze Statue.— All these circumstances, now recurring vividly to his memory, excited within him a sudden and irresistible sentiment of curiosity, to know more respecting that abode of mystery, luxuriousness, and perhaps crime. Animated with this feeling, and yield- ing to its impulse, Sir Ernest de Col- mar resolved to obtrude fora little space upon the time allotted to the repose of Ermach; and as a profound silence now reigned throughout the inn, the knight stole gently forth from his cham- ber. Being unwilling to disturb, much more to alarm the inmates of the hostelk in their slumbers, he preserved the same noiseless pace as he threaded the long passage, Which was involved in total. darkness. But, on drawing near the chamber appropriated to Ermach, De Colmar was surprised to behold a light stream- ing forth from the open door,—and he advanced, with continued caution, to the threshold. And there he suddenly became trans- fixed with the paralysis of indescribable amazement. For, behold—by the side of the couch in which Ermach, exhausted by the fa- tigues of the day, had been surprised by slumber, notwithstanding his appoint- ment with the object of his devouring passion,—there, we say, by the side of that bed, stood the Daughter of Glory! Her hair rolled in refulgent yellow waves over her alabaster shoulders,— the negligence of her attire left her bo- som of dazzling whiteness partially ex- posed; and in one hand she carried a lamp, the lustre whereof played fitfully upon her countenance which struck De Colmar as being pale, deadly pale! The knight was astonished—astound- ed; petrified with a wonderment amounting to an awe and a consterna- tion, he remained upon the threshold, motionless and speechless as a statue! comicbooks.com = ay — _ ee - = = * —_ —_—- Aa - ~ eh, ia a fj > ime - ee ee a eds a an —< “EF e+ = pos ~. in ge Bee » ays . * ow fi —- ‘7: oot ~ -_ = ~<a x.