The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

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On|ruins,’ said Bernard, whose politeness yonder eminence in the south-east | was, however, only an excuse to enable stands the wreck of Manfredo Castle ;| him to see a little more of Satanais, her and on the height which you behold | extraordinary conduct having made a due-east, are the blackened remains or deep impression upon him. the stronghold of BaronGeorgey. Three} ‘Then, before De Colmar had time more powerful nobles existed not in Bo- | to utter a word, or the Daughter of Sa- hemia; and three more magnificent | tan to breathe a remonstrance, the ac- dwellings, combining strength and gran- | tive old man, brushing past them, began deur, could not be found in Europe’s|to precede them down the spiral stair- list of feudal fortalices. My master, | case. the Baron Ildegardo, who was *sur-| ‘Come, Ernest, let us delay not,’ Wie iy Via al named ** The Thunder,’ was a mighty whispered Satanais, maintaining her ; ( warrior and a great hunter: But you | composure ; ‘we will rid ourselves of Pease lini3) behold, Sir Knight,’ exclaimed the ven- this importunate old man when we ». aA — a — ee ee - . o 2 ~~ = — -_s* oad 7 * os > as > = Coty = =* te . . = - = ‘ ~ ~ = al e< i .* = ee ~*. ~~ z = " * =~ or - ae” ey be ~é e~ d * eat f a Pe < a ; " 2 lt ‘ * _ : “oe 4 * : p. - . * eo ya ee ; ee San at m= ner r 3 ees cSt 4 a “ - —~ e >. - “ . ~~, «+2 ~—" -* ‘ * -. — « Fe raed © la, - — - . — ‘ete - ~ Espo ™ — — — = = —=--. > tae 5 — . ——a neat a : aed ra : = £ - e pn, te 0s . a.” 4 . -, «= 4 - LJ od - ~_—— « eh a Oe we ue ee ee ma ~~ "tines —<_~ = 2 “a * = - =“. ie. es = +% * ~ ow + Se rs. : — -_ wee < ” 7 “+ wat et a 2 4 ~ -_s - - = =a erable man, suddenly interrupting him-| reach the bottom of the steps.’ self, and pointing to a particular place} And down the staircase they accord- on the bank of the Moldau which flowed | ingly went, old Bernard preceding them past the ruins of Ildegardo Castle— | with his staff. | ‘you behold, 1 say, that spot where the, In a few minutes they emerged fron trunk of a tree, blasted by the lightning, | the door-way at the foot of the tower, hangs over the stream ?’ and Bernard exclaimed, ‘ Permit me, ‘Yes, I mark it well,’ said De Col-| brave knight—and you, lovely lady, to mar, astonished at the painful excite-| conduct you amidst these ruins and ment which the aged Bernard’s tone | point out to you the most striking fea- and manner had suddenly displayed, as | tures of the place.’ s r\, . ;* . M ’ *° ‘ he pointed towards that special spot.| ‘ Ernest, dear Ernest,’ whispered Sa- ‘But what dreadful reminiscence is as- | tanais, throwing upon her companion a sociated therewith ?’ look full of the tenderest entreaty, and ‘Alas! alas!’ exclaimed the old man, | pressing at the same time his hand in shaking his head ominously, ‘It was which her own was clasped, ‘ we have there, benexth that tree, deep in the I seen enough of this desolate place; l waters of the Moldau, that the remains }implore you to dismiss that old man at of the murdered priest He once and conduct me away from the ‘Silence, driveller! silence !’ sudden- | scene.’ ly ejaculated, or rather shrieked Sata-| But scarcely were these words ut- nais, in i tone so full of rending terror | tered, when a number of armed men, and thrilling anguish that it transfixed | led by a monk, rushed forth from amidst both the old man and Sir Ernest de Col-|the ruins. In a moment the venerable mar with mingled amazement and hor-| Bernard was dashed rudely aside by ror; then, bounding at the same time | that ecclesiastic who thus appeared at from her seat upon the stone, the in-|the head of the party ; while a rending comprehensible being grasped her lover | shriek burst from the lips of Satanals, violently by the arm; and looking up|as her eyes encountered the malignant into his face with a countenance ex-| features of Father Cyprian! pressing emotions frightfully harrowed,| * Perish—and be my vengeance gra- she said in a low, hoarse, thick voice, | tified!’ exclaimed the priest, raising ‘If you have any regard for me, Er- | his left arm—for his right, be it remem- nest, you will lead me away at once !’|bered, was disabled; and the dagger ‘ Farewell, then, old man, farewell!’| which he grasped ferociously flashed exclaimed De Colmar, throwing a kind |in the sun-light. look on Bernard, whom he would fain ‘No—’tis thou who shalt die, mon- have tarried to question farther. ‘And|ster!’ cried Suatanats, instantaneously now, my beloved, I am at your orders,’ | recovering the desperate bravery of a he added, giving his hand to Satanais, | heroine ; and, drawing her poinard, she who had just subdued her emotions by | sprang towards the Carthusian with the a great effort, and whose looks, no long- | fury of a tigress. . er wild nor haggard, suddenly beamed But the priest stepped | glancingly upon him their gratitude in a flood of| aside, at the same instant directing his lustre. weapon at the bosom of Satanais. ‘At all events your execellency will! 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