The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 937 countered Satanais at the foot of the| ‘you are well aware that I am inno- staircase communicating with the back | cent?’ premises of the inn—that having seen| ‘And you can testify in the same her once before when the Taborite | manner with regard to myself!’ said the army passed that way, he immediately | first sentinel, in a tone of mingled re- recognised her again—that he accord- | proach and entreaty. ingly saluted her with deep respect—j; ° Hear me, your worship,’ cried Lin- and that she. having gracefully acknow- | da, with an air of decision and a voice ledgee his courtesy, hurried away. He | of firmness, ‘ these men are innocent! moreover observed that he stood watch- ; Most solemnly do I swear that they are ing her a few minutes ; and that having |innocent! Nay, more, the very con- traversed the garden ata rapid pace, versations which I held with them, and she disappeared round the angle of the | to which 1 have alluded, formed a por- adjacent grove. He then hastened to | tion of that studied plan whereby my communicate the circumstances to his | beloved mistress was enabled to accom- wife ; and it appeared that the worthy | plish her escape. With me, then, woman was somewhat astonished at the | rests all the blame—I alone am guilty mystery attending this visit on the part ——’ of Satanais, whose arrival at the inn had ‘Nay, not you alone, sister,’ said been altogethex unobserved and whose | Beatrice, throwing herself upon Lin- departure was effected by the back pre- | éa’s bosom, ‘for I was your accomplice, mises. ‘and I will share with you any penalties ‘The arrival of the lady may have | that may ensue.’ passed unnoticed,’ said the magistrate, | And the beauteous girls remained ‘ because it is probable that she entered | locked for a faw moments in a fervent the establishment by the same way in| embrace, their tears bedewing each which she ultimately quitted it; and it | other’s cheeks, but their eyes looking seems that her departure would have | the sunshine of ineffable love and mu- also taken place unobserved, had not | tual devotedness through those pearly the landlord been accidentally about to | showers. ascend that particular staircase at the | Behold that touching spectacle !’ ex- time. That the Lady Satanais shunned | claimed Sir_ Ernest de Colmar, unable observation and acted with studied pre- | to curb his feelings any longer. * Will caution, is therefore evident,—for it| your worship persist in the idea of pu- would even appear that she must have | nishing those amiable maidens,—mere arrived on foot——’ girls as they are,—whose only fault is ‘IInless she had a horse concealedin! their extreme devotion to their miis- the grove, your worship,’ said the land- | tress ? lord. | ‘It grieves me to do aught that is ‘ Likely enough, and perhaps another | harsh,’ said the magistrate, himself for the use of her sister,’ remarked the | deeply affected, ‘but my duty compels Taborite officer. ‘But I do not see| me to treat these damsels as the accom- that we are a whit nearer the elucida- | plices in a grave offence against justice —— tion of the mystery, than we were | —and, therefore, I have no alternative when your worship commenced the ex- | ——' amination. Sut his worship stopped suddenly ‘I must frankly admit that such is! short, as he became aware of the fact the case,’ observed the magistrate,— } that Sir Ernest de Colmar was purposely then, turning, with a severe counten- | causing the talismanic ring upon’ his ance towards Linda and Beatrice, he | finger to reflect the rays which the sun said, ‘ Young muidens, [ would once | cast through the window. more appeal to you whether it will not; ‘ Your excellency was about to make be well to make some revelation re-| some observation?’ said the venerable specting the matter now before me.— 'functionary, recovering his (nagisterial By your obstinate silence you compro- lair of diguified calmness and veiling be- mise the characters of others. For} neath this question the real cause of his what view can I possibly take of the! sudden self-interruption. transaction according to its present! ‘I was anxious to implore your for- complexion? Common sense tells me | bearance and mercy ou behalf of these that one of these two sentinels must. damsels,’ responded Da Colmar, once have been bribed to permit the Lady | more displaying the riag ina significaat : — — —— Gloria to escape from her apartment.’ | manner. ‘© Linda!’ exclaimed Gondibert,—ji The magistrate and the Taborite comicbookKs.com “= » + . ~—- ee Fee ae ~ = - —- / Saas et ae = —_— -- ae a — he _ ee tye & a ~ =. on =F Bs i _ os ~ = 2 < - ey “a oe S ee ES — vas, — = * — omy i