The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

-- - % - — * ré = . > - . P - 3 r e * - . 2s ! . " . ~~ £ ne : . THE BRONZE STATUE. 149 ‘But the plan of escape— tive in seeking an opportunity to pene- | suspense. 7 trate hither once more. But pray,—I| the mode of departure hence beseech, I implore you,—look as ifour| ‘* Neither I nor my fellow-page have conversation were of a gay and indiffer- | any project arranged beforehand,’ an- ent character swered Lionel. ‘We can only help ‘ Yes, continue!’ exclaimed the prin- | your highness with our good will, our ces, in an under tone; and she fixed ‘fidelity, and our swords. ‘Tis for you her blue eyes searchingly upon the ‘to command, and for us to obey.’ handsome countenance of the page. ‘Then not a moment is to be lost!’ ‘I have a presentiment that you are| said Elizabetha, her heart fluttering here on my behalf, and I read frank-|jike an imprisoned bird in its cage. ness, candor, and chivalrous generosity | « Within ten minutes the portuls of the in your features. ‘Tell me, then, who | saloon will be closed and the voluptuous are you!’ revels will commence,’ she added, a ‘Is the name of Sir Ernest de Col-|purning blush suffusing her cheeks. mar familiar to your highness ?’ inquired | « Now we may pass unnoticed through the youth, assuming at the same time | the ante-room. Come, let us fly !’ a smiling aspect so as to cheat the rest of the company into the belief that he)r-: : on "ser ps fe cake ill ath wiereiediie:| Lionel in an imploring tone, as he rose as playing th . a -eeable | - — ; ert me Ae4 1; eas the Sim ne | from the ottoman and gave the princess ‘and dispe us hate : 5 his arm. ‘The least excitement on the liments and flattery to his fair com- . P ts. aud Battery ¢ % | part of your highness, and we are un- ‘Is that name knownto your ~: anion. | done |? , done! 1ighness? or shall I mention another eee — ee —_ —EE ‘Tranquillise yourself,’ whispered and prouder ‘Austria has not, then, deserted my interests altogether!’ interrupted the princess, as soon as she had partially recovered from the amazement into which the youth’s words had thrown her. ‘ Yes, the name of Sir Ernest de Colmar is indeed familiar to me. His excellency visited me some three weeks ago, in his capacity of envoy from the puissant Albert of Austria But | am revealing secrets without knowing who you are,’ exclaimed the princess, suddenly checking herself. ‘Tell me in the first place how you came to dis- cover the place of my imprisonment— or rather concealment,’ she added hasti- ly ; ‘and how you ascertained that I am indeed the unhappy Princess of Bo- hemia ?” ‘Tllustrious lady,’ whispered Lionel, ‘ when I tell your highness that | am but a humble page in the service of that same Sir Ernest de Colmar ‘Oh! then, I will trust you, good youth,’ interrupted the princess; ‘ for [remember that your worthy master manifested the deepest sympathy to- wards me. What do you propose !? what do you wish?’ she demanded, with feverish impatience. ‘To bear you hence, royal lady, and place you under the protection of Aus- tria,’ was the response, delivered in a low but solemn tone. ‘Oh! heavens—what gratitude al- ready fills my heart:’ murmured Eli- zabetha, her eyes glittering with the uneasy expression of mingled joy and | design, ‘Fear nothing!’ responded Eliza- betha. ‘I am now playing too grand a stake to risk its loss by any folly of my own. Is your companion following us? she demanded, as she passed slowly on towards the shining portals, leaning upon Lionel’s arm. ‘Yes, he has quitted his fair com- panion on some pretence,’ answered ithe youth, perceiving that Konrad was close in the rear. ‘But is your royal highness well assured of the practica- bility of the step you are about to take!’ ‘T am aware that there is a subter- ranean passage which will most proba- bly lead us to safety,’ was the prompt reply. ‘ But if there is any opposi- tion—’ ‘Then bright swords and hard blows must decide the point,’ added Lionel, in a resolute tone. They now passed into the ante-room, where Konrad almost immediately join- ed them; and while affecting to be in- tent on contemplating the mechanism of the beautiful water-clock, they as- sured themselves with hasty glances that the numerous inmates of the sa- loon were too much occupied in conver sation, flirting, merriment, and tender whispering, to pay any particular atten- tion to their movements. Sauntering forth from the ante-room in an apparently leisurely manner, the princess and the two pages crossed the magnificent landing outside, descended the superb marble staircase, and reached the hall, which, fortunately for their was at the moment entirely de- comicbooks.com oy . < ay | \. a - = ‘ a o~ * z eel oP aS — . . 4 , * S = a to ae » carte = Viets < . f " = a “A as ‘ ! o. - “* » € > Pe jp wee * ee, * * : a lll, x a : i em 5 Be : - ~ : 4 _ + Pee ee ee oe — —«_» eae —_... et 7