The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. gpoke of you in such terms that wou'd make any right-minded person desirous to enjoy your lordship’s friendship.’ ‘The forest-keeper of whom your Ex- cellency speaks is one of the most devoted and faithful of my vassals, observed the the Count of Rosenberg. ‘ But, come— Jet us put spurs to our steeds—or we shal! not reach Prague within the hour.’ As he thus spoke, the nobleman urged his horse into a smart trot—an example which was immediately followed by Sir} Ernest de Colmar and the Count’s numer- ous retainers. We must avail ourselves of this oppor- tnnity to observe that certain which had just now fallen from Lord de Rosenberg’s lips, had made the acquainted with the fact that he was scarcely an hour’s ride from Prague. This intelliyence confirmed the suspicion al- ready entertained by de Colmar that the monk had led him a circuitous route in the morning when conducting him blindfolded to the dwelling-place of the Princess Elt- gabetha. In a little more than twenty minutes, the stately towers of Hamelen Castle stood forth from the obscurity of the night; and very shortly afterwards the gleaming walls of the White Mansion appeared in strong relief against the deep and coloriess sky. ‘| must assuredly pay my respects to that excellent Baroness and form her friendship, thought the Knight to himself: but even while silently breathing this resolve, he was influenced by certuin vague and undefined feclings of curiosity —almost bordering upon suspicions—for which he could scarcely account. In another half-hour the cavalcade en- tered the Bohemian capital; and de Col- mar discovered, to his delight, that not only had Count de Rosenberg undertaken this journey for the purpose of being pre- sent at the council of nobles so soon to assemble—but that he likewise intended to fix his quarters at the Golden Falcon. The filty men who accompanied him formed the contingent which he brought to aid the garrison in defence of the city ; and they were accordingly assigned to the barracks in the Castle, while their noble | master availed himself of the goo¢ accom- modation which the establishment of wor- thy Messer Temptin afforded. Our readers will scarcely require to be informed that Lionel and Konrad were overjoyed when their beloved master, Sir Ernest de Colmar, returned to his lodgings at the inn; for the two youths, alarmed at an absence of so many hours and for which he had in no way prepared them, gate up ‘until he made his appearance remarks | tion | eountenance of such perfect manly beauty Knight | ed yy —- =) age » i ‘ ‘ ‘ inertness POA IEN Sse ee <i —. ‘ /_ ae a eu <r 61 bewtween two and three o'clock in the morning. ——— = y . Se = 6 er A Pw --* ~ > 2 yw = ie a . oo = —_—— on & CHAPTER XVI. ok ee 8 THR MEETING WITH GLORIA. e Peg 7 : x» a ae ri. 3 : | Ir was on the Ist of August, and within 'a few minutes of noon, that Sir Ernest de |'Colmar ascended the steps leading to ‘the southern rampart of the city of Prague. He was elegantly dressed—and there was something grandly noble in his de- meanor: he seemed the very personifica- of a generous chivalry—and on his was depicted that benevolence which had | more than once induced the poor and the loppressed stranger to appeal to him to }exercise his charity or to see wrongs | righted. But on gaining the rampart, the Knight isuddenly stopped short, as an idea struck | him—and the smile which his lips wore, ag | instantaneously departed. What was he about to do?—and had he well considered the step which he was taking ? in a moment of the heart’s venial weak- ness—under the influence of the souls pardonable tenderness, when dazzled by a beauty such an mortal eyes never gazed }upon before—he had accepted an appoint- ‘ment with a young creature of whom he ‘knew nothing, and whom a singular mys- |tery appeared to envelope. Nay, more— 'when yielding to similar feelirgs, he had assented to another meeting—also with a being of supernal loveliness, and around whom a deeper veil of mystery was thrown. [In a word, he was to encounter Gloria at noon—and Satanais at night,—the golden- haired beauty at the congenial hour of her own sunny splendor—and the dark hour at the suitable season of glowing moon- light! But was he acting prudently, or even honorably, to think of keeping these ap- pointments each of which was made ata moment when, intoxicated with ineffable feelings, he was not the master of his own actions? At ali events, if he intended to meet Gloria, it would be wrong to meet Satanais afterwards: and if his heart or his fancy dictated a preference for Satanais, then ought he to quit the rampart at once and not wait for Gloria. Preference, indeed !—impossible was it to decide which of the ts.o beauties had the greater claims upon the admiretion of the eye and affection of the heart. The brilliant giory of the one might intoxicate the brain and ravish the senses: but the comicbooks.com