The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. v2] sach a night as [ could not wish my worst enemy to experience.’ ‘ Deeply. deeply, do | sympathise with you, Satanais,’ said De Colmar, his voice and his looks expressing all he felt. ‘And believe me, when | assure you that if my friendship can avail you in aught, you may command me. _ I have already, on a former occasion, told you that [ am rich and influential But perhaps you are aware of all that, from a knowledge of the sources of my wealth and power!’ he suddenly ex- claimed, gazing fixedly upon her, as if to read the secrets of her soul. ‘The offer of your friendship cannot solace me for the loss of your love,’ re- sponded Satanais, evading altogether a reply to the question contained in the latter portion of De Colmar’s speech. ‘And yet I thank you—oh! sincerely thank you for the proffer of assistance by means of your riches or your power. Nevertheless, I require nothing at your hands—nothing, save the promised par- don on which [ may ponder ever more in that solitude whither [ am so shortly to retire. And now I will commence ‘the explanations which you demand, by taking up the thread of Bernard’s nar- rative. The knight drew his chair closer to the couch; and, fixing his eyes upon Satanais, he prepared to listen with at- tention to the forthcoming revelations. ‘The old man,’ she resumed, after a brief pause, ‘broke off, you said, last night, at that point where the Castle of Manfredo was destroyed, and in the ruins of which he believed the Baroness of Ildegardo and her daughter Gloria to have perished. But before I allude to the manner of their escape, [ must in- form you that immediately after the Lady Emilia with her child became a captive in that fortalice, Baron Manfre- do began to persecute her with avowals of his love. At first the unhappy lady treated him with scorn and made no attempt to conceal her aversion; she loathed him as the man who had con- tributed to the misfortunes which broke her husband’s heart, and likewise as the wretch who had caused the deaths of her father and her sisters. Man- fredo, obeying only his savage instincts, abandoned entreaty and such soft per- suasion as he was capable of using, and had recourse to mennaces. ‘Terrified by those threats, the hapless Emilia chang- ed her own course of proceeding to- wards him, and adopted all imaginable tactics to gain a delay. ‘l'rusting to circumstances to accomplish some change in her miserable condition, she implored a year’s grace in order to mourn the death of her husband; and she promised at the expiration of that time to listen to the love suit of Man fredo. Captivated by her beauty, the glory of which was only subdued and not entirely destroyed by affliction, the baron assented to the compromise ; and the twelve months had nearly expired, when the Baron of Altendorf sent to demand that the little Gloria should be consigned to his care, in order to be brought up under such female guardian- ship as he might choose to appoint.— This requisition was duly communica- ted by the Baron Manfredo to the Lady Emilia; and the latter, horrified at the thought of parting with her daughter, threw hersef at Manfredo's feet im- ploring him not to comply with the Lord of Altendorf's demand. Manfre- do vowed that he would protect Gloria as if she were his own child, provided that Lady Emilia would become his wife forthwith ; and the unhappy mo- ther, though abhorring the man whom she looked upon as the murderer of her nearest and dearest relatives, neverthe- less assented to the consummation of so tremendous a sacrifice for the sake of Gloria. The bridal was to take place in private and without any ostentatious ceremony ; but on the very eve of the day fixed, the Baron of Altendorf ar- rived with his troops beneath the walls of Manfredo Castle. This commence- ment of hostilities caused the postpone- ment of the marriage; and for nearly three weeks was Manfredo Castle de- fended with the utmost gallantry against the besiegers. But, at the expiration of that time, it was carried by storm— Manfredo was killed,—and the vassals, driven to despair, fired the stronghold. In the terrible confusion which follow- ed, the Lady Emilia effected her escape, | bearing Gloria in her arms; and, fa- vored by the darkness of the night, she gained the neighboring woods. ‘There she procured a peasant costume for her- self and humble raiment for her daugh- ter; and journeying towards Prague, she arrived in a few days within a dis- tance of ten leagues from that city.— Fortunately she had brought away with her a vast quantity of jewels which Ba- ron Manfredo had given her as a wed- ding present; and, converting a portion into money, she purchased a small cot- tage in a secluded spot, where she re- solved to devote herself to the tender comicbooks.com x v a a » ¢ - - v > 5 aa x or ; ~ —- - ia ‘ Zé - a e ad + . 4 « . * ~ Y f + . . # « ~~ 4 wef . 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