The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 334: what you’re looking at

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

A » ¢@ s ij j - ‘ | : 4 : - . a) 7 t ° v¥. a 7 py! + | - + 3. ii - ’ 7 a ‘ ‘f “ ;_ * . ae a * { 4," ? = a4 “oe , . . * an . ’ * Fa - * ow le - ——~ 2 « rae he « pay - Fa = * rs - we —" ” - a « ° t : -., - ait a os ~~ ; ~~ - 3 7 “» Md - es s o ~~ = the» = — re 332 shall become the queen’s husband ; and the sooner the ceremony is performed, the better. The assembled nobles and their ladies are all hot upon it at pre- sent; and we will have the nuptial noose tied ere they have leisure for re- flection. Besides, since this Angela Wildon is again in the neighborhood re ‘ Wherefore should not the marriage take place to-morrow evening!’ de- manded the priest, stopping abruptly short in his hurried walk and fixing his eyes upon the baron. ‘So soon? so speedily ?’ exclaimed the latter. ‘How is it possible that her majesty can be sufficiently prepar- ed ‘Leave all that to me,’ interrupted the Carthusian. ‘Is she not a mere puppet in my hands? and was it not to render her a thus obedient automa- ton, that I reduced her to what she is? Give your consent to the celebration of the marriage to-morrow evening, issue our commands for the necessary festi- vities, and I will guarantee that her ma- jesty shall appear at the proper mo- ment before the altar. ‘The Bohemians will then have confidence in this warlike movement which we are initiating ; they will perceive that her majesty hus allied herself to one of the most power- ful families in the country; and, what is more,’ added the priest, his voice sinking to a solemn whisper, ‘all the adherents of the Bronze Statue will be incited to activity in the royal cause.’ ‘Your arguments are irresistible, holy father,’ said the baron, ‘and every thing shall be done in pursuance of your advice. Such being our resolve, it is unnecessary to take any steps to re- move Angela Wildon from the vicinage of Altendorf.’ ‘Quite unnecessary,’ responded the priest. ‘But if your lordship had not yielded to my counsel respecting this early celebration of the marriage, it would have been expedient to take some steps with regard to the beauty of the forest. And now, my lord, we un- derstand each other; and our confer- ence is at an end.’ ‘One word!’ exclaimed the baron.— , Think you that Lord Rosenberg will be pleased with the matrimonial ar- rangement? He was not of our party last night, inasmuch as he is doubtless busily employed in placing his own for- talice in a condition of defence. But he is too useful as well as too powerful for us to offend THE BRONZE STATUE. ‘He will not be offended,’ said the priest, calmly. ‘Had he a son of his own to put forward as a candidate for the queen’s hand, it were different.— Besides, having escaped from the cus- tody of Zitzka, he is seriously compro- mised and cannot retrace his way. No, it is not the ambition of the Count of Rosenberg that we shall have to dread, —but if there be amongst us an indivi- dual on whom we must keep a sharp eye , ‘Ah! do your suspicions fall else- where?’ exclaimed the baron. ‘Yes, upon the Marquis of Schom- berg,’ replied the priest. ‘Have you any reason for thus allud- ing to him ?’ demanded the baron. ‘As yet I have no positive grounds of suspicion,’ responded the Carthusian —‘but I know him well—understand him thoroughly—and therefore doubt him. Your lordship’s appointment to the chief command of the royalist for- ces is unquestionably galling to the am- bition of the marquis.’ ‘But he congratulated me as warmly as the rest,’ observed the baron. ‘Nevertheless, I shall keep a strict watch upon his lordship,’ returned the priest. And, with these words, he quitted the room. A few minutes afterwards, old Hu- bert emerged from his place of conceal- ment; and, descending to the lower re- gions of the spacious edifice, he entered the subterraneans by one of the secret means of communication with those places of mystery and terror. CHAPTER LXXXII. THE GUARANTEE. Tue intelligence speedily circulated like wild-fire throughout the castle, that the marriage of the queen and Lord Rodolph was to take place on the fol- lowing evening; and the most exten- sive preparations were set on foot in order that the nuptials might be cele- brated with fitting pomp und splendor. It was understood that the Carthusian priest had been appointed by the baron to communicate the wishes of her faith- ful nobles and adherents to her majesty ; and rumor likewise declared that the young queen had assented to a proposal which policy had recommended, and ‘against which her own inclinations ex- \ ‘ comicbooks.com