The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

©) - 48 I loo! fail to think of Sir Ernest de Colmar. cross its back,’ responded the knight.— friendship must I give thee——’ ‘I require none,’ interrupted Angela, Pusteiiy in e's bade him saddle the horse without de- ‘There is something strange and un- settled in your manner, my dear friend,’ if observed De Colmar ; ‘and it is impos- a secret grief upon your soul, or a hid- Tell me, then- At this moment Satanais, attended by Linda and Beatrice, appeared upon the | threshold of the door communicating Bes tid] with the court-yard of the inn: and an begeaes? ejaculation of mingled surprise and ad- se via miration escaped from Angela’s lips as | | resque a costume. ay! | Turning a look of inquiry upon the | bien Austrian warrior, the forest-maiden was instantaneously struck by the ex- pression of pleasure which animated his handsome countenance, at the sight of that superb creature with the dark com- plexion and the romantic garb; and a suspicion, vivid as a lightning flash, dart- ed ath wart her imagination. ‘Is not that the Lady Satanais, Glo- op yh ria’s sister ?’ she demanded in a tone to eek 4 which the sudden presence of her natu- ral virgin pride imparted an extraordi- nary firmness. ‘itis, Let me introduce you to her ere you take your departure,’ said the! knight, moving as he spoke towards the | door where Satanais was stilf standing. ‘Come, my dear friend, and you shall reveal your name to me in her presence, | that she may likewise know you well | and learn to esteem you.’ | ‘No—oh! no—no! cried Angela, | seized with a sudden bewilderment | which threw all her ideas into as deep | bit eee a confusion as if she were struck with | ——— -———_ #3 vertigo ; avd the nest moment, obedient | ae | to an irresistible impulse, she sprang | |S ey upon the steed which stood ready capa- ae in risoned near, dashed her spurs into its Bae ot sides, and flew like the whirlwind from te ae ; the presence of the astonished behol-| f SP ae ate ders of this abrupt and unaccountable ae ‘; ‘ a - = . sible that I cansuffer you to depart with | den cause of despondency in your heart, | she caught sight of that splendid being, | THE BRONZE steed,’ she repeated; ‘and every time | < upon the noble animal, I shall not | | ‘I have already considered the steed | | to be thine from the moment thou didst | in atone of the deepest feeling ; then, | turning hastily towards the groom, “rd | ' murdered by the Dau ' STATUE. CHAPTER LXIMT. THE FUNERAL PROCESSION. WeE must now leave Sir Ernest de ‘Therefore some additional proof of| Colmar and Satanais, attended by the handmaidens and the grooms, to pur- sue their journey towards the Austrian frontier, while we return to that hoste? where the first halt had been made and at which the young page Ermach was ghter of Glory. it was about eight o’clock in the morning,—the same morning as that whose incidents occupied the preceding chapter,—and the landlord was seated with his wife at their well-spread breakfast table, conversing upon the 'events of the previous day, when a horseman galloped up to the door of the inn. He came from the direction of Prague, and was mounted upon & steed of great power and agility, which he had evidently ridden ata rapid rate, } whose charms were set off by so pictu- let was dimmed with the dews of ni He himself was travel-soiled + the stee polish of his head piece and his corse- ght —and his boots were covered with dust The handle of his sword was muffled : ' ———_—— dts communicate the objec in black cloth, and a slip of the same sable material was tied round his right arm, these signs indicating that he either mourned the death of some re- lative or else belonged to a funeral pro- cession. He was a man of middle age, hard-featured, and with a some- what sinister look; and in his manner as well as in the expression of his coun- tenance it was easy to read the bold, reckless, and desperate nature of his disposition. Fiastily dismounting from his steed and tossing the bridle to the hostler, the armed traveller strode into the hostel and demanded a goblet of wine to re- fresh himself withal. This was imme- diately supplied; and when the man had slaked his thirst, he proceeded to t ot his visit. ‘ You must bustle about. worthy host —and you likewise, my buxom hostess,’ he said, in atone of mingled familiarity nnd imperiousness ‘Fora numerous party will be here anon to partake of all the good things that you can prepare - c > . | at so short a notice for their break fast. in a word, it is a funeral procession which is passing this way; and I have ridden forward in advance to see that adequate arrangements are made for the reception of the party during the comicbooks.com