The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

ania — ~— —_ A — - — THE BRONZE STATUE. 315 and obeyed the necessity which prompt- and in the meantime you must answer ed him not only to conceal his emotions | me one, or two questions. In the first from Bernard’s eyes, but also to stay and | place, then, tell me whether this narra- hear him to the end. ‘tive which you have just unfolded to my The sun had set some time ere. the | ears is generally known, with all its har- old man ceased speaking ;—and through- | rowing details, throughout. these dis- - out the long history had he and De Col- tricts !’ mar.remained in the same spot on the| ‘The outline of the history is of summit of the Donjon. But so absorbed | course well known,’ responded Bernard: were both the narrator and the listener | ‘but all the circumstances relating to in the profound interest of the tale and} the Baron of Idegardo’s compact with of the reflections to which it gave birth,| the Baron of Altendorf and the true that they observed not when the orb of | particulars respecting the murder of day threw its ruddy tints upon the| Heracles; in fine, all those portions of western woods,—nor when it sank to| the tale which involve the mysteries rest below the horizon,—nor when the and the terrors of the Tribunal of the moon at its first appearance shed a faint} Bronze Statue, are known but to a few. silvery gleam upon the sombre land-| For from my lips alone were they like- scape,—nhor when, acquiring power as/ly to be published; and if 1s only on the darkness increased, the planet of} rare occasions that I have been so com- the night advanced in slow and queenly | municative as in the present instance,’ majesty over the far-off forest. ‘l’hus ‘Then wherefore have you thus did the obscurity deepen insensibly and| made a confidant of me?’ inguired the unperceived around the old Donjon) Knight. where De Colmar and Bernard stood; ‘Because,’ answered the old man, and thus also did the moonlight steal ini without an instant’s hesitation, ‘ there the same unobserved manner upon the|is something so generous, so frank, so scene. noble-hearted in the expression of your ‘+ Your narrative has touched me more | countenance, that I feared not to trust profoundly than | can describe,’ said Sir| you with those awful revealings.’ Ernest de Colmar when Bernard ceased| ‘1 thank you, worthy old man, for speaking: ‘and ere 1 pass a comment the favorable opinion you have thus en- upon it, let me hasten to inform you that tertained of me,’ said De Colmar, press- the Lady Gloria still lives.’ ing Bernard’s hand with friendly ‘The Lady Gloria lives !’ cried the old warmth. ‘But tell me—had. you ever man, with mingled amazement and joy. | any reason to suppose that the Lady ‘Qh! let me hasten to throw myself| Emilia could possibly have had another at. her feet—to fold her in my arms— | daughter besides Gloria!’ to gaze upon her at least once ere | ‘ Assuredly not!’ exclaimed Bernard, die a in a tone expressive of his unfeigned ‘Compose your feelings, my worthy surprise at the query. ‘ That is tosay,’ friend,’ said De Colmar: ‘ for I am ut-jhe added, ‘ the Baroness of Idegardo terly unable to lead you to her. I know | was never married a second time to my not where she is, nor whither she has | knowledge : indeed, as 1 have already gone. But I have seen her, more than | informed your excellency, methought once aes the unhappy lady had perished in the ‘And is she beautiful—very beauti-| conflagration at Manfredo Castle.’ ful?’ inquired Bernard, weeping like; ‘And you have never heard of any a child. ‘And is she happy ?—for that| near relation, about the same age as she is virtuous and good, I feel con-| Gloria, and. closely resembling her?’ vinced—at least if she has followed her said De Colmar, with feverish impa- excellent mother’s example.’ tience—for he was all anxiety to seek ‘ Yes—she is indeed beautiful, beau- | an interview with Satanais. tiful as an angel,’ answered De Colmar:| ‘ No, never,’ was the old man’s re- then, in order to evade the other ques- | sponse. to the knight’s last question. tion which the old man had put, he| ‘But wherefore this strain of interro- hastened to observe, ‘Her mother has| tory ?’ long been dead, at least 1 have reason | ‘T will tell you to-morrow,’ rejoined to believe that such is the fact: but I; De Colmar. scarcely imagine that the Baroness.of| At this moment the door of the cell Iidegardo. perished, as you suppose, in} where Satanais lay was opened, and Manfredo Castle. On allthese subjects,; the light of a lamp within streamed however, we will converse to-morrow: | forth upon the roof of the Donjon. Im- ; ‘ >) & Me 2 « a ® 4 comicbooks.com