The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

oa oe, + ets od —_—-- ee * a = ew oe eee - - s > . om A . LPL SE EN Rl A ty ll = - == ° Se ee - - ~s . « . 138 THE BRONZE STATUE: when even the slightest allusion to | permit frem the Captain-General. But those tremendous mysteries fell upon your ears.’ ‘ Yes, for a few instants overwhelm- ing indeed was that alarm,’ exclaimed Angela; ‘for although I comprehended not the allusion, and although not even the wildest of my conjectures can af- jord a clue to the real object of that Statue, or the real use of that machi- nery, nevertheless, in my soul there is a deep conviction that both are connect- ed with some awful rites or terrible ceremonies, if not with enormities from the nature of which the imagination re- coils shudderingly and in dism: iy. But while the old woman and Father Cy- prian were continuing their discourse an low whispers, I recalled my scattered thoughts and paralysed energies; and, impelle ad by some secret influence or pr esentiment which prompte dd me to escape from the vicinage of the priest, i descended from my chi umber, ordered my horse to be saddled forthwith, re- warded the Jandlady of the tavern for her attentions, and resumed my jour- ney towards the Bohemian capital. | have now explained to you, Sir Knight. how it is that I undertook to cross the dreary heath alone and during the dark- ness of a stormy night.’ ‘And from your remarks, fair maid- en,’ said De Colmar, ‘I conclude that | you have no fixed destination in Prague. | ‘he Golden Falcon, at which hostel] 1 | myself am residing, is kept by a wor-| thy couple named Templin, and they have a daughter about your own age. Does it please your fancy that I should | commend you to the care of these good | people ?’ ‘kor the remainder of 9 night, at! ‘and I ten- | | details of that fearful event passed in all events,’ replied Angela ; der you my gratitude for so much cour- teous attention on the part of your Ex- cellency.’ ‘Nay, give me no thanks for so poor a service, fair maiden,’ said the knight: ‘remember the amount of obligation | owe to you ior having stayed your steps awhile to succor meas ] lay senseless upon the heath. But we wall now press forward at a quicker pace.’ De Colmar and Angela accordingly urged their steeds into a smart canter. and in a quarter of an hour they reached the city gate. At first the y were refused admittance by the ‘I abor- ite sentinel, who pleaded that his in- structions were pe remptory not to suf- the display of the glittering ring on De | Colmar’s finger, as another soldier came torth from the ouard room with a torch in his hand, produced an immediate effect, and, the interdiction being -ag courteously withdrawn as it was:sum- marily asserted, the knight and his fair companion passed into the city. Without farther WP they pursued their way to the Golden Fal- con: and the tty landlady being summoned from her chamber, to which she had retired hours before, Angela was consigned to her care. Sir Ernest de Colmar then repaired to his own suite of apartments; but on traversing the chamber appropriated to the use of Konrad and Lionel, he ob- served that the two couches were unoc- cupied, and it instantly struck the knight that they were probabl: y absent on the mission which he had entrusted te them some days back relative to the Princess Klizabetha. Unassisted, therefore, was he com- pelled to lay aside his armor; and when this somewhat difficult task was accom- plished, he retired to rest. Extreme weariness soon wooed the presence of slumber; but in his visions did he’ be- hold the renewal of that dread scene | which had occurred upon the heath. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE FAREWELL. Sir ERNEST pE CoLMAR dreamt, we say, that he was again in the midst of the wild and desolate waste, combatting with the Knemy of Mankind. All the phantasmagorian array through _ his /mind; every word which his sable con- /queror had then uttered was now re- | peated again in his ears: nor less did his meeting with the beauteous Angela occupy its proper place in this Jong and exciting vision. But sudde nly he awoke, or else it seemed to him that he awoke; and, to his boundless surprise, mingled with an |ineffable joy, he beheld Satanais seated ‘by the side of. his bed, her splendid countenance bending over him with an expression of the most touching melan- choly and plaintive tenderness. The lamp which the knight had left fer any unknown armed warrior to en- burning upon the table threw its mellow ter Prague by night without a special | ‘gleam upon those magnificent features, comicbooks.com