The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. should we delay in entering on those | separate paths which we are henceforth to pursue.’ ‘T understand you, Ernest,’ said the | : . ‘ . . . : Daughter of Satan,’ again wiping away the tears which dimmed her lustrous ; ‘You wish me to give you the desired explanations at once; but there oyes. are certain circumstances whereon L dare not touch, because they have con- nexion with another —’ ‘On is if possible that you will leave me in the dark relative to those myste- ries which surround yourself, and which in some an } upon my destiny !’ exclaimed De UCol- mar. his voice and manner sense exercise influence now COU | veying alike remonstrance amd reproacn. | ‘Surely, surely you can conjecture all I require to know ! ‘ell me, then, | wherefore you paraphrased the true | history of the house of Iidegardo! tell me who you are, and in what degree of relationship you really stand with re- gard to Gloria? tell me who was the} champion in black armor, whose lance | stretched me upon the heath, and whose lips imposed such strange conditions ! tell me why, loving me as you did, you . | bade me farewell for ever at Prague, and left me to the seductive wiles and fascinations of Gloria? tell me where- | fore vou rejoined me when Gloria’s crimes compelled her to part company with me? tell me whether Zitzka 1s cognizant of all the strange duplicity which you have practised ? and tell me, | likewise, whether he has ever revealed to you any important secret concerning | Upon all these points do | *an- myself! implore your frankness and your dor,’ added De Colmar, in a tone of impassioned vehemence, mingled with earnest entreaty. ‘To-morrow morning will I explain as much as I dare,’ answered Satanais, after a long pause, during which she remained wrapped up in a profound re- fection. ‘The excitement of this in- terview has produced a fever of the 319 indeed require tranquillity and rest ; and not for worlds would [ add unne- cessary torture to that which already rends your soul. To-morrow morning, then, we shall. meet again, and for the last time. he added, in a tone the mournfulness of which he strove to subdue. ‘To-morrow, and for the last time,’ repeated Satanais, with accents of des- Sir Ernest de Colmar took her hand, pressed it for a moment in his own— and then rushed from the cell, without daring to cast another look upon the be- ing whom he had loved so madly but who had deceived him so unaccountably.. CHAPTER LXXIX. THE LAST INTERVIEW. The night passed : the sun rose above the eastern horizon, lighting the fields to a dazzling green with its advancing rays, and bringing forth all the mellow richness of the autumnal tints of the groves. As the mists of the morning were dissipated by the warmth of the orb of day, the romantic homesteads and pic- turesque cottages which dotted the sur- rounding country, stood forth in the strong relief of their white walls, or else appeared to form a nataral portion of the landscape, covered as many were ‘with wild festoons of luxuriant plants. The gentle breeze renewed the spir- ‘+ of life in the air; and the hum ot insects appeared like the distant echo- ‘ing of the melody poured forth by the hlood and a bewilderment of the ideas | which render a few hours’ repose abso- lutely necessary ere I can venture ona task that is both difficultand painful. | implore ° seech you—— ‘it shall be as you say, Satanais,’ ex- claimed the knight, compassionating the condition of that splendid being whom he had lately beholden so full of hope, and animation, and joy, and who was now so completely crushed beneath the weight of sorrow. ‘ Yes, you must vou, theretore, ernest—L be- | warblers of the woods. In the unclouded lustre of the sun, the river Moldau shone like a path of lapis lazuli, stretching through the mea- dows far as the eye could reach, and at length disappearing amongst the shades of the distant forest, the dark foliage of which. contrasting with the emerald brightness of the plains, gave depth and richness to the whole landscape. fr was an hour after this sublime sun- rise that Sir Ernest de Colmar ascend- ed to the roof of the Donjon. But he paused not a moment to gaze thence upon the loveliness of the scene dis- playing itself around, nor to slance at the ruins of the two fortalices im the horizon: ruled by one idea only, and which clung to him like an iron chain, = ee Se a ate a > a — a a | a a F mad ball a 7 << . Set & 49 Ps . + < . - . © ined wet Boek a ae ete = + Pa 4 hd * a ° : af - ° . - * > - lat - a = a - ‘ . >. > > . - * ¥ : Oe ee rs —™. = eEPa® é > > . 2 owe - . >» ota 7 _ - . ‘ ~ 2, ame “oP - ae = —+~ — - on Oa al - ‘ —{aF - > sY = 2 i on in ' ‘ ay 7 comicbooks.com