The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

48 THE BRONZE STATUE. Thus speaking, the Baron spread the let- CHAPTER XII. ter flat upon the table, with the writing downward: then, with his finger, he moist- THE JOURNEY. ened all the blank side of the paper with - wine from the goblet which stood near him;| Croupiess was the blue sky of morning and this singular process being finished, he | and refulgent, too, was the mighty arch of took up the document and re-perused it| heaven with the golden radience of the hast:ly— while the Carihusian monk watch-|sun. The blushing flowers, refreshed with ed him in mingled curiosity and suspense. | moistening dew, sent forth their odors upon ‘Ah! this is indeed different!” he ex- ‘the zephyr-breath; and beautiful in their claimed. ‘Behold, good father, in what emerald pride were the shrubs and trees of sense the Jetter reads now.’ the garden on which the casements of Sir The priest took the paper once more; prey de wiped ae eae and running his eyes buastily over it, he | ***<” puitege fh RMR ae one. found that the contents had undergone an | varied hues of a bright floral fe ree alieratioinwhiek aieeeom: alana thus:— broidered the parterres and borders with : natures own choicest arabesques, ‘BELOVED AND RESPECTED SIRE, It was about nine oclock; the two pares ‘The bearer of this, Sir Ernest de! had obtained leave to sally forth and view ~_——< o ° ae eS =r 3" = - — ° — — eS a — ~s _ OR _. Wi Colmar, did dishonor your Castle with his the public buildings, monuments and curi- presence on his way to Prague. i saw | oaitles of the Bohemian capital 5 and Sir enough of him to be well assured that he is Sir “rnest de Coimar was busily employed a most wnworthy Knight and wramiable | in continuing certain despatches which he gentleman, and most certainly calculated to! had commenced on the previous evening disgrace the council at Prague, if such, as | after his long discourse with worthy Messer I suspect, be his destination. For as un- Lemplin, the landlord. | ' pleasant tidings fly fast, so have I reason to Presently the door of the apartment know that Sir Ernest de Colmar isall J now | opened—and Father Cyprian made his ap- represent him; and in such light, my res- | pearance. | pected sire, wil it be good to receive him. I'he monk was attired in precisely the | Your dutiful son, same manner as when the Knight first saw ‘RODOLPH. | Bim: the coarse Carthusian gown envel- oped his fine and naturally commanding ‘Now, indeed, have we good reason to | form ;—the rosary and scourge were sus- mistrust this crafty, wily, treacherous Aus- | pended to the cord which girt his waist— trian!’ exclaimed Father Cyprian, ‘Jt is| and the cowl was drawn just so far over his evident that Lord Rodolph has not only | countenance as to conceal his forehead. heard evil tidings concerning him, but has On entering the room he darted a rapid likewise seen just and sofficient reason to| and searching glance at Sir Ernest de Col- look upon him with suspicion. ‘I’o what} mar, in order to assure himself by the object the Knight's perfidious policy may | Knight's manner, whether he in any way tend, it is at present impossible for us to de- | suspected who his antagonist might have termine—scarcely to conjecture: but your| been in the profound darkness of the f lordship will agree with me that, while we | church when Gloria was rescued: but so treat him with an outward air of courtesy, | frank, ingenuous, and honest was the wel- we must maintain a strict watch upon him | come which our hero instantaneously gave in private. the priest, that all uncertainty on that head ‘Such is the course which we will adopt, | V95 4t once set at rest. It was quite evi- hoy father,” answered the Baron. ‘ When) dent that the Knight had not recognized do you propose to present yourself to the him among the tombs, nor had subsequent- Knight and introduce him.-to the Princess ?” ly received any hint or intimation to arouse ‘To-morrow morning,’ returned the priest, | ss ane relative to his complicity in the rising from his chair and drawing his cow] |SC€Ne Of attempted abduction which fol- completely over his face. lowed. ‘Where do yo intend to pass the night ?” | " iveranbet plaoweie well considered all demanded the Baron of Altendorf. ‘Would | RO * rane a ania US ON B. CErsin OCCee it not be wise to repose yourself until the wae a] adda reve Sa when the ain wey Ser roof: a | *Methought that we Recleed at‘n perfect No, my lord, was the reply: it is abso- | understanding on every point, said De Col- lutely necessary that I should repair with- ° ; mar. ‘It remains but for your Reverence out delay to Hamelen Castle.’ to fulfil a certain condition—— And, having thus spoken, Father Cyprian! ‘For which purpose I now stand before took his departure. you,’ interrupted the priest. ‘The Princess oe - os. <= «> er ial i th a) - — a a —— ° : ~ = : bo~ e* 2s po - —— © ee, oo Ge din eee. es — — —s > * e ee a ee ee a oy * eer, Sera oor SSS are ae —_ ~ — ous o oe eae bh Jn “ Ja - . _ ~~ : - = — 4 rn COMICDOC _COM