The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

—— 6 8 ee ae ee ~— Se, - 2 oe — © ~~ ~~ »* j > \ ll ~_ * s+ - an 2 a Y e —_ =" . (~. —F - - 7 “= . alt OE er twee ee > +t a es * ~ «32 - -. a & -& wah 200 THE BRONZE STATUE. * ~~ oo = ~ ua - @ ~~ i — = * Se - asked the latter, not addressing herself serve that one was the Marquis of to any one in particular, but glancing Schomberg, and the other the Baron of rapidly round upon the lady and her| Altendorf. As for the priest, our read~ four charming dependants. ers have doubtless already conjectured ‘We require nothing at present,’ said| that this reverend traveller-was none the handm#iden who has already been| other than Father Cyprian. specially alluded to asthe eldest. ‘Her| ‘Have you seen her royal highness ladyship will repose herself for acouple | safe to the chamber prepared for her ?’ = = ~~ — ©< -_ rs. =~ a ———— Sia oe oo <i -—= - . = - so 's- < pe ee ne ee — i: .. ke —= lie - > aa : = 4 '. a ms ’ - ee « a > a’ Z z - . * ,* ? — - « ee Ee meg Diss A Cee , ~ S&.- eo « =* a te TE 4 e * = s el “et - . * . Se lin ee gy es TU x orm — ee — . at = 5 es ae ee arr a es —~- 2 pee P = , a a Sy ee 27a ao MASS gh Maer oO ES we Pia ; zs: i of hours; and you can bring up refresh-) demanded the Baron of Altendorf, when | wae jl ments so soon as the repast is in readi-| the Carthusian entered the room. He Mg itt ness. Her ladyship will permit ws,’| | ‘I accompanied her to the threshold,’ Wi 4 it ei added the girl, glancing at her fellow- was the response, as the priest threw My : hi ay eit dependants, ‘to take our meal in her| back his cowl; * and I enjoined the el- bithae | Suey ” He) company.’ dest of her handmaidens to watch her | H| | ida Fait This little dialogue between the hos-| movements with lynx-eyes, and seé pi a ball tess and the eldest handmaiden took | that she does not escape us.’ ayy 4h rah place at the entrance of the apartment : ‘ Her hatred against us all appears to ES Pe usta while at the farther extremity the lady | be most inveterate,’ observed the Mar- ete appeared to have fallen into a profound | quis of Schomberg. ‘That she was reverie—unless, indeed, she were yield- ing to the influence of a slumber aris- ing from fatigue; but on this point the hostess could not satisfy herself, inas- much as the lady retained her veil over her countenance. It, however, forci- bly struck the worthy woman that the lady was not altogether her own mis- tress, and that she was indeed under some species of restraint; for the priest had appeared to be looking at her while he breathed his hurried whisper to the hardmaiden, and the handmaiden herself had subsequently spoken witha real authority, though with an assumed deference ; and there was, moreover, something like despair in the profound | listlessness to which the lady had aban- doned herself the instant she entered the room, and which was broken only by that sigh which had been so unmis- takeably wafted to the ears of the hos- impatient of her sojourn at. the White Mansion, I was well aware; but that she should evince so thorough a dislike, amounting to a perfect abhorrence ‘Let us not waste time upon the point,’ interrupted Father Cyprian has- tily. ‘Suffice it for us and our pur- pose that she isso completely in our, power as to resemble a bird in the in- extricable meshes of a fowler; and if we succeed in placing her upon the Bohemian throne, she becomes our puppet— our doll—a mere automaton in our hands, while her crown will prove the talisman of our aggrandizement.’ ‘ All this has been well weighed and calculated by us,’ observed the Marquis of Schomberg ; ‘ but remember that if we once suffer her royal highness to escape from us, farewell to all our dreams of grandeur and power.’ ‘The handmaidens are faithful, and -* —-— peg. & * _ a i . apoyo’? - o* ———— ~ ag™ = = ~ a “ a - . ° . ~~ > - ps ae ~ —e_! = _e. ; an “ 7 . - . : . wu * is . ~~ _ 7 — _ eee ee ete Or ee ne ee - — *. * - = - 3 + oe . A - a , . . a , 7 « ——_—- ie Sa 4 oe ss ¢ - - . -—s - = PP Fg Pet Sees: ad - * Sd * I< > ’ ras — ™~ a 4 * = = - — . ~~ ree > ><. - Se we 4 ey ae ow + - ——— . ‘ee —_4 N-Gage — | er “-, —~ ° ”. ee ee “ s — * = « — ~* tee a ——- * » . — en tue > - ee eye . ~~ — * - in in = — o —— 7 * ~ '~e . ss “ ~o <7 ee ee ee er) “ * av, @ i a ° a » . « PI eS TR alaods —~ - > he e “ nm ) etn = EES Ss Se STAD TY - . 5 ” #6 ¢ oo c ° er a 7 ~ *% SS ae - a Sew ~ Cr Se ewe a AE an as ane FF “ @ o> = | tess. will rigorously perform the part of cus- is All these circumstances were trivial todians,’ said Father Cyprian. ‘I will nA enough in themselves, it is true; but} moreover take care that the princess still they struck the landlady and crea- ted in her mind the impression we have mentioned. Accordingly, as she re- turned to the kitchen. she stopped for a moment to impart her suspicions to her husband; but he treated the mat- ter indifferently enough, observing that it was no business of their’s, and _ bid- does not have an opportunity of com- municating with any stranger until we get her inside the walls of Altendorf Castle.’ ‘And then we hoist the royal stand- ard of Bohemia,’ added the baron, ‘and proclaim a war to the death against John Zitzka and his Taborite hordes.’ 4% . , -e 2 a —_ — a erp oe . “— 4 \ ** SP). a ~«, - <-~ we. - ——— . . ~~» te ee eo tee ete = deem 2-8 ee oe ae". « oo = c - lh tin ~ ~ i ~ = “ ride ~ od . ; ding her attend to her own concerns. In the meantime the Carthusian priest had repaired to the room where atable was spread for himseff and the two warriors in complete armor—a se- parate apartment having been prepared for the accommodation of the pages, the attendants on the hearse, and the eight armed men constituting the guard. The two warriors now raised their vizers; and we may as well at once ob- | ‘Yes—and every feudal stronghold throughout the land will give back the martial shout,’ observed the priest ; ‘and if need be, I will take the cross in my hand and go forth to preach a cru- sade against the Taborites. ButI hope and prophesy that our’s will be a com- paratively easy victory ’ ‘ Do not give way to:such a delusion, - | said the Marquis. of Schomberg, in a solemn tone. ‘That the royal cause comicbooks.com