The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. Bat the embarrassment of this scene was not destined to be of long continu- ance: for Gloria. suddenly starting to her feet, turned upon De Colmar a counte- nance in which tears and smiles, sorrow and joy, agitation and happiness were so | singularly blended, that he was amazed and bewildered by an expression made up of such antagonistic emotions. The words which Gloria im mediately uttered, seemed to afford, however, a key to the solution of that enigma which her whole appearance presented at that moment. ‘I trusted to a dream, and I was wrong,’ she said, in a deep, melting tone. ‘'l"he delusion has vanished, and [now comprehend how foolish I have been. Butin the depth of my disap- pointments, amidst the ruins of my hops, there is yet a grand consolation. You love my sister. and should you be- come her husband, you will likewise become my brother. In that near de- gree of affinity may 1 enjoy your friend- ship, your esteem, your fraternal affec- tion. These will suffice for me,’ added Gloria, her features lighting up again with their wonted radiance: ‘and I may yet hope to enjoy much happiness. In the meantime, Ernest, your secret is safe with me ; ‘And not even to the ears of Satanais herself must you breathe it at present,’ exclaimed the knight, infinitely rejoiced to behold the change which had come over the heavenly creature who stood before him. ‘Oh! no, no!’ she cried: ¢ for it can only be friendship which you dare prof- fer her until her doom be decided by the combat you have so generously under- taken to wage in her behalf. And in that combat,’ added Gloria, relapsing into gravity, ‘ may all good angels attend upon thee!’ She paused, extended her hand, and suffered it to remain for nearly a minute in that of Sir Ernest de Colmar, while her eyes dwelt with unspeakable tender- ness upon his countenance. ‘In every lineament of your features,’ she said at length, and speaking in a tone of deep sincerity, ‘the noblest thoughts are written. Now that I am to regard you only as a brother, and that you must look upon me as a sister, I may be permitted to give utterance to | those praises which your chivalrous character evokes from my heart. Fare- well for the present, Ernest—farewell.’ And, pressing his hand warmly, she turned gbruptly away, plunged into the te “+ 3 > et. « < . 2 - * SS" ye een 129 green mazes of the wood, and was al- most instantaneously lost to his view. Fle stood for a few minutes gazing upon the spot where she had thus dis- appeared ; then slowly recovering from the fit of abstraction into which he was | thrown by the rapid review that he now | took of the preceding scene, he retraced | his steps into the city. On reaching the Golden Falcon, Sir | Ernest de Colmar summoned the two pages, Lione! and Konrad, to his pre- sence, and addressed them in the fol- lowing terms: ‘You are both aware that the Cap- tain-General of the T'aborites is anxious to get the Princess Elizabetha of Bohe- mia into his power. But this must not be, for Austria is bound to afford her ( highness a refuge. That she is con- cealed somewhere.in the vicinage of Prague is more than probable; and I 4 therefore charge you both to institute Re searching but cautious inquiries with a view to discover the place of her abode. At the same time I warn you, gallant youths, that this task will be attended with danger, unless it be executed with circumspection and prudence; for the princess is watched by at least one in- dividual, and perhaps by more, to whom any interference in her affairs may not prove welcome nor agreeable. Farther than this I am not permitted by circum- stances to prompt you ; but your intel- ligence, love of adventure, and desire to please me, will doubtless lead you on to success. And if successful, your re- ward shall not be inconsiderable. I'he pages made a suitable answer, expressing their readiness to undertake the task thus confided to them; and when they had retired, Sir Ernest de Colmar sate down to pen despatches to the Lord High Chancellor of the Duchy of Austria. re ——EEE a am — — ne nr Sst ste CHAPTER XXXIV. THE CHAMPION OF THE DAUGHTER OF : SATAN, | At - Ir was the night of the 15th of Au-. | gust. mie | | The weather was tempestuous and stormy ; the wind swept in wild and frequent gusts through the city oft Prague ; and the darkness was so thick, so intense, that the atmosphere seemed to be one solid mass of something black and palpable. 9° <a ah SSE, We : comicbooks.com