The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 393: what you’re looking at

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

~~ THE BRONZE STATUE. 291 been ordered to retire by her uncle the Captain-General : but she was happy— thrillingly, deliciously happy, in the thought of the terrible vengeance which she had that night wreaked upon the Carthusian ecclesiastic. In another room of that vast strong- hold were now uassembled the Captain- General of the Taborites, his daughter Angela, and Hubert the steward. A courier had been already sent off to the Count of Rosenberg, with despatches hastily penned by Zitzka’s own hand: a messenger was likewise on his way to ————— likewise forming one of the conclave of three into whose presence he was ushered. Waving his hand for the guard to re- tire, Zitzkan motioned the Baron of Al- tendorf to take a seat at the table; and now the four were alone together in that apartment. The nobleman took the chair to which the Captain-General pointed; then he looked earnestly at the steward, and then to Angela, as if to read in their countenances the mean- ing of this formal preceeding and the doom that awaited himself. But Hu- the forest cottage occupied by the Wil-|bert studiously avoided meeting the dons; and a third emissary had been| eyes of that master whom he had serv- despatched to Ildegardo Castle. ed so long, yet whom he abhorred with All these arrangements had been|the deepest loathing; while Angela, made and these various measures adop-| profoundly affected by the many and ted within the hour that succeeded the| varied incidents which had occurred on terrific tragedy which had given another | this memorable night, was gazing upon and a last victim to the Bronze Statue; | her sire with a look that pleaded for the . ia and now, as above stated, the mighty | fallen nobleman. Zitzka, his daughter, and the old stew- ard, were seated together, awaiting the arrival of the Baron of Altendorf, a guard having been sent to fetch that no- bleman from the encampment where he and his son Rodolph were detained prisoners. In a short time the baron was intro- duced into the apartment. He was al- ready aware that the ‘Taborites were In possession of his castle; and a rumor had reached him to the effect that an entrance had been obtained by means of the subterranean passages. He there- fore knew that the Bronze Statue and its hideous machinery must have been discovered ; and he naturally dreaded lest he himself should become a victim to the tremendous engine of torture and death to which he had doomed so many in his time. But he wasno cow- ard: and as it was with a firm step that he had accompanied the guard to the room whither he was thus conducted, go was it with a determined air anda haughty demeanor that he entered into the presence of the Captain-General. But the moment his looks fell upon Angela, he recognised the maiden who had delivered him from the Castle of Prague, and who, as he had heard from the Carthusian, was the object of his son's affections. That she should be in his fortress at all, was a circumstance alone calculated to excite his wonder ; but that she should be thus familiarly seated by the side of the Captain-vene- ral was an additional source of amaze- ment and perplexity. Nor less was he astonished at beholding his steward! ‘Baron of Altendorf,’ said Zitzka, at length breaking silence, and speaking in a tone that was impressive and awe- inspiring ; ‘I will at once relieve you from all suspense in regard to your own | personal safety. Great as your erimes have been, I will not harm a hair of your head—no, not a single hair of your head; although, at the same time, L must warn you frankly and candidly that the future treatment to which you are to be subjected, will be such as shall render you powerless to work mis- chief for the remainder of your days. Perpetual imprisonment, but with such indulgences as are compatible with your habits and the social position you have occupied—this is the sentence that I pass upon you.’ : ~--- OO _ | ‘The life, then, that you grant, proud conqueror, is scarcely worth thanking you for,’ exclaimed the Baron of Alten- dorf, in a tone of sullen defiance. ‘ Wrap not yourself up too hastily in the gloom of an evil disposition and an ungrateful soul,’ said Zitzka, his voice conveying a remonstrance more solemn than even his words: ‘ for it may prove that 1 have certain revelations to make which shall yet touch some relic of good feeling that is latent in your breast, For I cannot believe that any man, de- spite of all the evil influences under which he may have been placed, will have tutored himself to crush every sentiment of humanity—every emotion of love and tenderness—in his bosora.’ ‘To what sermon is this fine thesis to lead ?”? demanded the Baron of Al- tendorf, adopting 4 tone of arrogance 1m comicbooks.com 7 +, ith “a. * *