The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 336: what you’re looking at

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

+: + . > my de ~ -”. a a ~ ~ — ee ~~ = a ~~ = ” ot ~v . — * . a . = al ‘ ° + > ~ ~ ~ — -—-* im wa ~_ . - . >*. a -® . >» ' 4 2 Lf , | “ ae ro a io .% ¥ oF ee ( 7 : 4 - . ——. = 334 joyousness and fervor as on the pre- ceding evening; butthe ladies, ex- hausted with the amusements: of the day, retired at an earlier hour. ‘The Baroness Hamelen was one of the first thus to withdraw ; and immediately af- ter she quitted the hall, the Carthusian priest followed her. Overtaking the baroness in one of the corridors leading to the sleeping apart- ments, the monk inquired whether she had stated the real cause of her preci- pitate flight from Prague, or whether there were any other reason which she did not choose to proclaim in the pre- sence of the assembled guests. for the war which John Zitzka had of his own accord first declared against the Bohemian aristocracy. ‘Having journeyed with a speed which has well nigh exhausted me,’ said the baronesgs, ‘ | must at once court the repose that | so deeply need; but to-morrow, holy father, we shall find an opportunity of cofversing together upon the various matters which regard our projects and our position.’ ‘Yes—for 1 have many and strange things to relate to your ladyship,’ ob- served the Carthusian, ‘ especially con- cerning Sister Marietta.’ ‘'T'o-morrow, then,’ said the baroness, ‘we wil have a long conference to- gether.’ Thus speaking, the noble parted from the priest and hurried through the pas- sage towards the chamber prepared for her accommodation. As she thus sped along the corridor, she felt in the bosom of her dress to assure herself that a certain document THE BRONZE. STATUE. ‘‘ Memorandum of Guarantee: to: her ladyship the Baroness Hamelen, in re- cognition of her promise and spontane- ous undertaking to deliver the Princess Elizabetha and her treasures into m hands: the avnexed conditions to hold only in the event of such promise and undertaking being duly fulfilled by the Baroness Hamelen. 1. To abstain from placing any garri- son in Hamelen Castle. 2. To confirm her ladyship in the possession of her houses, domains, and s, under any circumstances that may arise. 3. To accord her ladyship a full and complete pardon for all the intrigues, machinations, orschemes she may have been heretofore engaged in. 4. To extend the conditions of the third article toa certain nobleman whom she may name hereafter. «JOHN ZITZKA.* | | | | ‘estate A diabolical expression of counte- nance distorted the features of the Car- thusian as he read this damning proof of the lady’s treachery. An entirely new light was now sud+ denly thrown upon the motives of her visit to Altendorf Castle ; and the priest had no difficulty in comprehending that she purposed to make the Marquis of Schomberg the accomplice of her de- signs, and the partaker of the amnesty which she had secured for herself. Y es, it was for the behoof of this nobleman that the fourth article of the guarantee was specially framed; and when the Carthusian recollected his suspicions with regard to the marquis, and the confirmation they had received at the banquetting-table, he entertained no doubt that his lordship would gladly fall into the views of his paramour. Without losing many minutes in me- ditation upon. this important discovery, the priest at once sent a message by a page soliciting a brief and private inter- view with the Baron of Altendorf. This nobleman accordingly hastened to the Carthusian’s chamber; and he was thunderstruck upon perusing the docu- ment which the priest instaneously put into his hand. ‘Had I not received this proof of the vile woman’s perfidy, I should not have put faith in any one who might have asserted it,’ said the baron, at length recovering from the consternation of surprise into which he had been thrown, ‘But what is tobe done? She evident- ly relies upon her influence over the * ore ” ~ f ~ a ‘ was safe ; but, having convinced herself that it was, she did not notice that in ‘withdrawing her hand the valued and important paper fell upon the floor. Another instant, and she was in her chamber, where, overcome with weari ness, she hastily laid aside her garments and sought her couch. Nor did she perceive that she had lost the document concerning which she had proved so anxious a few minutes before. But the Carthusian, who had lingered in the passage in a mood of momentary thoughtfulness, beheld the paper upon the floor; and, picking it up, he pro- ceeded to his own apartment to ex- amine its contents. Then, to his unbounded amazement, he perused the following words :— : * a ——. ae — s n a a — Te é . =< a dé Ye > -- oe . wa ol = a ; ° - 2 re <<b ea ee = & + ~ . amis 1 = & — ak > + * s - r * Tr 2 a &> “ re AS . Pe, “+ » - x — LA-tie a * ~ A es ee om aie . ee ee « ~ ._ = - eo - a a¥ . ae ad 2% é/ ae. Lon > = a - ; > - - a + - Or —— ° ~ - - - . tied en ee oe | > we 7 RPSL SG s Sey lees a> a —_ — a led 2 SIO See ™ e - a as = e-«- — > ‘ss A - © Ge an % e +< . ~ - = ~ Pe Pe a* a _ ; — op ~ ae ee ee . - ¢ 2.3 2" 12% * . al - or) Sart ———, . > P* 2 i) . 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