The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 253 the door was thrown open, inasmuch as| prian, with a gloomy look; ‘for the the desire to conceal their features| Austrian was more or less on friendly would become too glaring; and yet| terms with John Zitzka, and he would they were anxious to avoid every| doubtless make known to the Taborite chance of being recognized, because | the nature of the White Mansion. Had they were well aware that Zitzka’s| such a course been adopted, not a stone emissaries had been despatched all over| of either that abode of pleasure nor of Bohemia with descriptions of the per-| Hamelen Castle would by this time re- sonal appearance of each of the State| main standing on another!’ added the Prisoners. Carthusian, in a deep and solemn tone. Accordingly, so soon as the dishes ‘Yes, those edifices would indeed be were placed-upon the table, the Car-| abandoned to the rage of the T'aborites,’ thusian priest hinted that the presence | said the Marquis of Schomberg. ‘But of attendants could be dispensed with.| surely the Austrian must have enter- The landlord thereupon withdrew, fol-| tained alarming suspicions respecting lowed by his wire and domestics, the | the White Mansion, even before he pe- two nobles and Father Cyprian thus re-| netrated thither the other night; and maining once more alone together. the imprudent conduct of the baroness,’ ‘We were speaking just now of the| he added in a tone of deep vexation, events which occurred the other night|‘*could not have tailed to streugthen at the White Mansion,’ said the Baron | those suspicions. Besides, he uccused of Altendorf, after quaffing a goblet of| the baroness of having made away with Rhenish wine, ‘and the subject recur-| his two pages ; and thus must he assur- ring to my mind, induces me to ask} edly have believed her to be not only a your reverence whether you think that) woman of an easy virtue, concealed be- the treachery of the young page Er-| neath the mask of an admirably assum- mach can have extended so far as a|ed hypocrisy, but likewise a murder- complete exposure and revelation of all| ess *’ the mysteries of the White Mansion.| ‘ Your lordship speaks in harsh terms For if so. the Austrian must entertain| of your own mistress,’ exclaimed Fa- a pretty opinion ther Cyprian, who, as well as the Baron ‘| am confident that Ermach would| of Altendorf, surveyed the marquis with not dare violate the tremendous oath | astonishment. which binds him to secrecy,’ interrupted| ‘I was merely specifying in plain the Carthusian. ‘He might have been| terms the opinion which the Austrian anxious to leave the mansion—he may | must entertain of the Baroness Hame- have availed himself of the Austrian’s| len,’ said the Lord of Schomberg ; ‘ and presence to accomplish that desire, and | Lam amazed that he should have quitted he would therefore naturally assist that}; Prague so abruptly—indeed, the very ersonage’s egress, together with An-| morning after the occurrences of that 7 gelo Wildon ; but there, depend upon it, | eventful night—without taking any far- his perfidy stopped. It woald not be|ther steps to discover the face of his the first instance, my lords, of an inmate | pages, which was evidently his object 1n of the White Mansion escuping there-| penetrating into the White Mansion. | El nd from, and yet observing inviolable the | But is it certain that he did take his de- oath of initiation. For the nature of} parture thus suddenly ? and how came that oath, and all the circumstances un-| your reverence to learn that he had der which it is taken, together with the | quitted Prague at all ?’ ) ghastly witnesses in whose presence the| ‘An emissary whom I despatched to vow is recorded, leave upon the mind} the Golden Falcon to make private in- even of the bravest and the strongest an | quiries concerning the movements of impression which calls up a cold shud- ‘the Austrian, brought me the intelli- der every time it recurs to the memory. | gence of his departure at daybreak that These reasons, therefore, induce me to| morning. But, after all, my lord,’ con- believe that Ermach will not draw aside| tinued Father Cyprian, addressing him- the veil which conceals the mysteries! self to the Marquis of Schomberg,— of the White Mansion from the eyes of| * what does tle Austrian really know the Austrian.’ concerning the White Mansion and the ‘And if the contrary should be the} Baroness? and how much can he sus- case ?’ suid the Baron of Altendorf, ia-} pect? I mean, if we suppose tuat he guiringly. ‘has learnt nothing from Ermach. ‘Vhat ‘Ah! then should we have to dread| the baroness conceals her gallantry be- the very worst,’ returned Father Cy-| neath the veil of benevolence, charity, qe == a comicbooks.com