The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZ me some days back for this very fure- noon, and at this place.’ ‘The boon is granted, lady,’ said the magistrate ; ‘ and I will command the sentimel in the passage to permit free and uninterr upted ingress and egress to any one visiting you during g your sojourn here.’ Having thus spoken, the magi bowed and withdrew. But scarcely had the door closed be- hind him when an expression of indes- cribable joy and triumph appeared upon the countenance of the Daughter Glory ; and turning towards Linda and Beatrice, she said in atone of exultation, ‘Now, my faithful handmaidens, give | me your attention while [ hastily ex- plain to you the course which I am ubout to pursue.’ strate CHAPTER LVII. THE FIRST SENTINEL. Ir is not necessary that we should pause to detail the conversation which now took place between Gloria and her faithful attendants: suffice it to say that whatever were the nature of the ex- planations or instructions given by the guilty lady to those charming hand- maidens, the latter not only approved of the plan proposed, but lost no time in lending their aid to its furtherance. The whole matter having been fully discussed in whispering voices, Linda proceeded to knock at the chamber- door, which was secured outside by a bolt. ‘‘he Taborite sentinel who was stationed in the passage, instantly opened the door; and on beholding Lin- de, he said, ‘Good morning to thee, fuir maiden.’ ‘Do you know me, quired the damsel. ‘He who has seen thy pretty face cannot easily forget it,’ was the re- sponse, delivered ina tone of perfect good nature, and not of coarse gallantry. ‘The same may be said of thy sister Beatrice,’ added the soldier. ‘But how happens it that you are company with the lady whom I am appointed to guard?’ he demanded, his voice sink- ing to a whisper 3 ‘Are you not aware that the Lady Gloria is the sister-of the Lady Sata- nais !’ asked Linda, likewise speaking in a low tone, and closing the door be- hind her. good friend?’ in- of | | | your 2 SOA TOE. 227 ‘+Methoucht that [ overheard ‘the magistrate telling some such tale to my commanding officer just now, when his worship came out of the chamber,’ said the ‘Taborite sentinel: ‘but as they walked rapidly away together along the passage, I could not eatch any explicit details, and therefore I fancied I must have been mistaken in the little ‘that E did hear—especially as I never before heard even a hint to the effect that the _— Satanais had a sister at all,’ is true, notwithstanding,’ said Linde. ‘Bat where was it that you first became acquainted with me and my sister by sight ?’ ‘I belonged to the army that was en- camped a tew weeks ago in the wood about a day’s journey hence, ’ answered the soldier; ‘and often and often have [ seen you ‘aud Beatrice in attendance upon the Lady Satanais of an evening, when she was wont to recline upon the green sward in front of the Captain- ul a w i General's pavilion. But when the army bs suddenly broke up its encampment to ms make a forced march to Prague at the ae time the Council of the Aristocracy bey was about to assemble, I was left, ai amongst others, to garrison the neigh- de. gh: Sess Di ne ae ee ee | ae boring town and occupy this district. And now that I have answered your questions, fair maiden, do you in return give me some particulars of this most mysterious—most unfortunate affair.’ —— ; >A or 4 . , 2 FP - * = ‘You are already acquainted with the outline of the tragic story, no doubt,’ said Linda, ‘and I have little more to tell you, unless it be that my dear mis- tress received an insult amounting to an intolerable provocation at the handle of Ermach.’ ‘You speak of the Lady Gloria as mistress,’ observed the T'aborite sentinel, ‘have you, then, left the ser- vice of the Lady Satanais, whom you declare to be her sister?’ ‘ Yes, Beatrice and I are now attach- ed to the Lady Gloria,’ answered Lin- da, ‘and you may conceive how cruelly our fe elings are tried by the dreadful events which have occurred.’ ‘Oh! I can well imagine how pro- foundly you must have been shocked, fair maiden,’ said the Taborite. ‘ But this Lady Gloria, does she at all re- semble her sister Satanais 2’ ‘You shall judge for yourself, good friend,’ said Linda, ‘I will return into - the chamber under pretence of fetching something which I had forgotten, and I will leave the door wide open so thag comicbooks.com