The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 265 and not to throw any insult or indignity | harsh, if I persist in my resolve to or- upon them.’ der the immediate occupation of Hame- ‘But is it possible that you mean to | len Castle.’ establish a body of your troops within| ‘General Zitzka,’ said the baroness, the walls of my castle ?’- exclaimed the Ieaed subduing by a tremendous effort baroness. ‘Indeed, mighty Zitzka, it | the outward expression of her emotions, was to confer with you upon this very | ‘the proceeding which you threaten to subject that I resolved to seek your pre adopt will break up all the benevolent gence; and I ventured to hope that the | and philanthropic arrangements which Taborite General was endowed with a| it has been my pride and my pleasure generosity and a chivalrous gallantry | to carry into effect at Hamelen Castle.’ which would induce him to exercise} ‘ My soldiers, lady, will receive posi- forbearance towards a weak and harm-/| tive instructions to forbear from even less woman.’ | the slightest interference in the domes- ‘Your ladyship has already received | tic economy of your establishment.— - > my assurance that no harm shall befal And as you yourself reside at the you—no insult be offered either to | White Mansion,’ added the Captain- yourself or any one dwelling beneath General, still watching every movement your roof,’ said Zitzka; * provided that | and varying expression of her counten- your adherents abstain from molesta-| ance, ‘the presence of two hundred tion towards the soldiers whom [I shall | soldiers of Mount Tabor at the castle send to occupy Hamelen Castle.’ /cannot prove a source of any molesta- - And it is precisely against such oc- | tion to your ladyship.’ cupation that [am come to plead,’ ob-| * Can nothing induce you to treat me served the baroness. ‘ Will you not| with forbearance and leave me in the take my solemn pledge of neutrality ! | quiet enjoyment of a peaceful tenure of will you not place confidence in me, | existence !’ exclaimed the baroness, her when I declare my resolution to abstain | tone and manner both expressing a frow all interference ia the affairs of | more agonising spirit of entreaty than my unhappy country ?” ‘she herself either intended or could ‘ Lady,’ responded Zitzka, in a firm | control. but courteous tone, ‘it grieves me to; ° Lady,’ said John Zitzka, his voice refuse a boon to any suppliant of your ‘assuming a severity which made her gex. But in the present instance my ‘blood run cold to her heart, ‘there is duty commands me to -rove ‘nexorable. | something weighing upon your mind— Your ladyship is known to be devoted | and if you seek a boon at my hands, to the Romish Church and likewise an} you must deserve it by placing implicit enthusiastic admirer of monarchical in- confidence in me.’ stitutions. Moreover. your ladyship| ‘ What do you mean ”’ cried the ba- ossesses a strong fortalice inthe neigh- | roness, hastily ; and, instantly catching borhood of the metropolis—a fortalice,’ | at the idea which the General’s words continued Zitzka, referring to his me- ‘excited all in a moment in her mind, she morandum book as he spoke, ‘which | said in a low tone and with a significant contains vast subterranean passages, and |look, ‘ You require guarantees and in the vicinage of which armed men| proofs that [ will cease to be an enemy wearing masks have been frequently ‘of the Taborite cause ?’ observed.’ The first feeling which this unmis- The baroness suddenly became pale |takeable hint created in the mind of as death. as Zitzka. raising his eye | Zitzka, was one of supreme disgust at from the book, fixed it upon her with a| the selfishness of the woman who thus searching keenness. She endeavored plainly intimated her readiness to de- to compose herself, but so great was | sert the cause and the creed she had so her agitation, so profound her confusion, | long espoused and join the ‘laborite that the words which she sought to ut- faith and system; but instantly smoth- | ter seemed to stick in her throat, and| ering any expression of that loathing, she felt as if she were about to be suffo- | the Captain-General’s second impulse cated. was to adopt a politie course and ascer- ‘Therefore,’ coatinued Zitzka, whose | tain how far the baroness could .possibly suspicions were naturally excited by | be useful to his projects. that mingled terror and embarrassment) * The ‘laborite tents are open to all which could only spring from some se-} who willingly seek them,’ he according- rious cause, ‘your ladyship cannot be ly observed. ‘But if those who thus astonished, nor must you deem me | appear amongst us, come from the comicbooks.com