The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 133 assured of frustrating the alternative |capital. And, fourthly, I require that which permitted her salvation of my | all interference on your part in the af- power to be effected by means of the | fairs of Bohemia shall cease fora period votary of friendship.’ of one year from the present date.’ ‘Then | am lost, irretrievably lost, ‘Are those the terms on which thou body and soul!’ exclaimed Sir Ernest de | wilt spare me and resign all claim to Colmar, as he lay prostrate and helpless | Satanais !’ cried Sir Ernest de Colmar, upon the heath; for even when he es-| his amazement scarcely equalling his sayed to make the sign of the cross, his | joy, for it was the diplomacy of a man arms remained without movement, and | rather than the savage ferocity of a de- his fingers rigid in the gauntlets, and a| mon which appeared to have dictated sense of stupendous terror hushed the | the conditions specified. * Every detail first word of prayer which he sought to; thou hast named, O Satan, continued breathe. | the knight, ‘ may be accomplished with- ‘No, you are not irretrievably lost,’ | out dishonor to my re putation or danger said the stern conqueror. ‘ There are | to my soul; save and exc ept,’ he added, conditions, by the acceptance and fulfil-|a sudden thought striking him, ‘that ment of which thou may’st escape the | desire which thou hast expressed with doom thy rashness has sought,’ regard to Gloria. For is she not de- ¢ Conditions !’ ejaculated Sir Ernest | voted to the service of heaven? de Colmar, the dread shuddering’which} ‘ Heaven hath released her from the had at first seized upon his entire being, vows which were made for her by her now suddenly changing into a species of | late parents, as well as from those joyous ecstacy ; for he saw that all hope which she pledged with her own lips,’ was not lost, and i in his mind sprang up| was the response. the generous aspiration of yet saving| ‘But | know not where she dwells, Satanais from the power of the Evil| nor when I may be enabled to see her One. again,’ said the knight. ‘Moreover, I ‘Silence, and hear me.out!’ said the| should hesitate to carry her off by sable conqueror, whose voice rolled like | force; and it is not probable that any a muffled drum or distant thunder upon | affairs of her own will lead her to de- the knight’s ears. ‘And marvel not if| mand at my hands an escort to Vienna.’ I can even at this moment penetrate thy} ‘Trouble not thyself upon this head,’ thoughts, which are reflected back to| exclaimed the dread being. ‘Thou her in whose behalf thou didst madly} wilt have to perpetrate no outrage in rush upon the path of danger. ‘Know, | order to make Gloria thy companion to then, that by the accomplishment of} the Austrian capital. For the rest, the those terms which I am. about to dic-| conditions please thee well ?’ tate, thou may’st not only release thy-| ‘I accept them cheerfully, ’ replied self from the power which thy defeat| Sir Ernest de Colmar. ‘ But Satanais this night has given me over thee, body and soul, but thou wilt likewise appease ‘Did she not tell thee that some su- me with regard to my claim upon Sa-| perhuman intention would make her tanais.’ acquainted with the results of this com- ‘Thy words, O Satan, fill me with | bat?’ interrupted the sable conqueror. mingled rejoicing and terror,’ said Sir|‘ Already have mysterious presenti- Ernest de Colmar; ‘for while they en- | ments warned her of all that has occur- courage hope in my soul, they make me} red within the last few minutes upon tremble lest the conditions thou hast to} this heath; the knell sounded in her heart propose should be such as I dare not} when thou wast hurled from thy steed, dream of accepting.’ but now the hymn of rejoicing and ‘’Tis for you rather than for me to| thanksgiving 1s raising its music to her estimate the respective value of those | soul !” alternatives between which your desti-| ‘Thou dost quote her own words,’ ny is balanced,’ answered the sable con- ; said the knight, a fearful shudder pas- queror, his voice sounding like the hol- | sing through his frame as he received low wind of December. ‘In the first| this proof of the superhuman know- place, | stipulate that within seven days | ledge of the dread being who still bent you take your departure from Prague, | over him as he lay upon the spot where and that you return to Vienna. Se-|he had fallen; for there was something condly, I enjoin that you behold Sata- | awful and overwhelming in the thought mais no more. Thirdly, I command) | that he was in such close contact with that you conduct Gloria to the Austrian! that immortal Lucifer who dared to comicbooks.com >»