The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

Me 4 Thave brought you the disguise, holy pain. Sister Marietia 1s in Prague, THE BRONZE STATUE. 137 no answer, and after a few peggy > Angela perceived not, in the ob- silence he inquired what were my in-'scurity of the night, how great was the tentions in visiting Prague—whether I | effect produced upon the Austrian war- had any friends residing there—and, if| rior by that portion of her narrative ; not, where I proposed to take’ up my j and she continued in the following man- abode. Evading his first query, as well | ner :— as I was able, I answered the two others ‘Upon receiving the intelligence by stating that I had no acquaintances | which the old woman had thuscommu- in the Bohemian capital, at whose dwel | nicated to him, Father Cyprian gave ling I could seek an asylum. He then} vent to an ejaculation of delight; and began to expatiate upon the benevolence then the discourse was continued in and charity of a certain noble lady with|low whispers for some minutes. At whom he was acquainted, and who pos- length I heard the old woman say,— sesses a splendid mansion in the vicinity | ‘* And if your Reverence should succeed of Prague—a lady to whose care he pro- | 2” getting Sister Marietta into your pow- posed to introduce me, accompanying er, whatis to be her punishment?” * How his offer with an assurance that I should | can you ask, Dame Martha ?” cried Fa- be welcomed cordially and affection- | ther Cyprian, in a tone of stern remon- ately.’ strance ; ‘* you who are one of the sworn ‘Did he mention the lady’s name ?’) servitors to the T'ribunal of the Bronze inquired De Colmar, a strange suspi-| Statue!” ‘hen the whispering was cion suddenly flashing to his mind. resumed, and [ overheard no more. ‘No,’ responded Angela; ‘and be-| Nor, indeed had they continued toe fore I had time to give him any an-/speak in an audible tone, would their swer, or even express my thanks for| words have been understood by me; his kindness,—of which it was not, | for a vertigo had seized upon my brain, however, my iutention to avail myself, | and a thousand objects of terror rose up —an old woman of respectable appear- | to my imagination.’ ance entered the room with a bundle| ‘ Wherefore were you thus stricken in her hand. The priest immediately | with alarm?’ asked Sir Ernest de Col- rose and beckoned her out of the apart-| mar, already suspecting what the re- ment. Feeling wearied with my day’s| sponse would be. journey, and anxious to avail myself of| ‘Because in the words which had this opportunity to escape any farther | last met my ears, there seemed to be questioning on the part of his Rever-|an allusion to something so terrible,’ ence, I ascended to the chamber which} said the young maiden, ‘something so had been prepared forme. Butscarce-| vaguely appalling in its dim signifi- ly had [ entered it and closed the door | cancy behind me, when I heard voices con-| ‘1 understand you, fair Angela!’ ex- versing in an adjacent room; and, the claimed the knight. ‘ You are no stran- partition being very thin, I could not| ger to the mysteries and horrors of Al- possibly help catching a portion of the | tendorf Castle ?’ discourse that passed between them.| ‘ What! is it possible that you also ; have seen But she checked herself abruptly in the midst of a sentence full of excite- ment; fora sudden reminiscence sealed her lips relative to any allusions which were calculated to lead her on to utter a word concerning the White Lady. ‘Angela,’ said Sir Ernest de Colmar, in a tone of deep solemnity, ‘ I have in- deed traversed those winding corridors and dark, damp rooms which lie be- neath the right wing of Altendorf Cas- tle: I have gazed with admiration, and wonder, and awe upon the Bronze Statue, and I have recoiled in dread horror from the contemplation of that father,” said a female voice, ‘+ and like- wise the juice for your complexion.” ‘© Good !” exclaimed another voice, which I instantly recognised to be that of the priest; “but have you brought me any tidings of her whom I scek so diligently?” ‘ Yes,’ answered the old woman, for I have no doubt that it was she ; ‘‘*my researches have not been in and your vengeance may be accom plished.” ’ Sir Ernest de Colmar actually bound- ed in his saddle as these words, related by Angela, met his ears; for the scene in the church near the Taborite en-| infernal mechanism which reveals its campment flashed to his memory, re-| ghastly aspect in the stone chamber be- minding him that Sister Marietta was|low. Full well, therefore, can I under- none other than the Daughter of Glory. | stand the alarm which seized upon you _ comicbooks.com