The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 333: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. the Austrian,’ continued the Carthusi- an; ‘for she delivered him from the sworn servitors at the White Mansion she travelled in his society a consid- erable portiun of the way from Prague —and she suddenly re-appeared again the day before yesterday to rescue him and Sister Marietta from my clutches. is there not devotion—a woman’s devo- tion in all this ?’ ‘Yes,’ replied the baron. ‘And you tell me that she is again in this neigh- borhood i ‘She was amongst the ruins of Ilde- | gardo the day before yesterday,’ re- sponded the Carthusian, ‘and it is most probable that she was on her way home- ward at the time.’ ‘ But is it not likely that she will ac- company the Austrian, whose life she has thus saved?’ inquired the baron. probable she can become his wife.’ man,’ returned the Carthusian, with an ironical sneer. ‘He would not treat Angela ungenerously, even if her own virtue were somewhat of the easiest— which I do not apprehend it to be. Therefore, all things duly considered, it amounts to a certainty that the maid- en will part company with him and re- turn to her torest-home. Indeed, she is most probably there already.’ ‘And what would your reverence have me infer from all this?’ asked the baron. ‘That Lord Rodolph may fall in with her again—that her beauty may revive the fury of his passion—and that he may prefer a simple barony with the chosen of his heart, to the throne of Bohemia with one whom he perhaps cannot love.’ , Admirably reasoned,’ said the ba- ron. ‘I did not fail to perceive the spirit of Father Cyprian in the speech of the nobleman who pleaded so touch- ingly in favor of a husband for her ma- jesty last night.’ ‘It was indeed at my suggestion that the speech was made,’ observed the holy father. ‘ Perceiving the enthusi- asm which prevailed in your lordship’s favor, and how completely the assem- bled nobles looked up to you as the claimed the Lord of Altendorf. en 338i a flint when the iron heel comes in con- tact with it, and which tiny scintillation may firs a vast train of gunpowder im an instant. I whispered to the noble- man who sate next to me, and who was already heated with wine; and I saw that he caught up the idea with a greediness showing how proud he should be to take the initiative in the plan. Having thus paved the way, I retired, confident as to the result.. And now, baron, are you displeased with me ?? ‘On the contrary, | owe you a deep debt of gratitude, my dear friend,’ ex- ‘Once let my son be King of Bohemia, with myself Generalissimo of the Forces and Prime Minister into the bargain,— and your reverence may then boldly and | openly aspire to the Popedom.’ ‘And will he not make her his mistress? | since we know that it is altogether im- | ‘ Yes, with such influence to support my pretensions; and those pretensions | previously authorised by the Archiepis- ‘+No—the Austrian is an honorable. . | | ' copal Primacy of Bohemia,’ said the ambitious priest, in a tone of triumph. ‘This arrangement will prove a more politic and advantageous one than our original idea of marrying the Priucess to the Duke of Austria.’ ‘In all respects save one, my good friend,’ observed the Baron of Alten- dorf,’ fixing his eyes with a mys- terious significancy upon the priest,— ‘and that reason, which you can full well divine, alone makes me hesitate. For I experience a species of compunc- tion, a kind of remorse, when [| con- template the idea of suffering my son to take to his bosom and to his bed a woman who has been the mistress of another; and all queen though she now be ‘ Lord Rodolph will scarcely entertain a suspicion relative to the chastity of his wife,’ interrupted Father Cyprian, impatiently. ‘But if such sentimental considerations as these are to stand in the way of your lordship’s ambition, better were it to cast to the winds all our grand schemes and projects at once.’ And rising angrily from his seat, the Carthusian began to pace the room with rapid and uneven steps. ‘Nay, yield not to wrathful feelings, holy father,’ said the baron. ‘ You will head and chief of this movement, I | admit with me that the taatter to which was suddenly inspired with an idea that | I alluded is a calamity, a great calamity it would be a marvellously fine stroke of |——-but, as your words implied, it must policy to take advantage of that excite-| not be allowed to stand in the way of ment. 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