The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

a~ a an - SP Se See = i ‘ » - 154 THE BRONZE STATUE. of aletter from Lord Rodolph to the ‘Stand back, then!’ exclaimed the | | Baron of Altendorf. In that communi- priest ; and at this counmand the bravos | retired to a short distance, leaving Lio- cation the young nobleman bude his fa- nel and Konrad together with the Car- | ther beware ol Sir Lrnest de Colmar, thusian. ‘Now speak, and let your | More *than this he could not say, Inas- words be brief and to the purpose,’ said | much as his letter might have been ' MO BEe ‘opened by him to whom its delive the latter. | |} Opened bj ' go ‘y ‘T know not, holy father,’ resumed | was entrusted. But the hint that Lord Lionel, in a low and earnest tone, ‘what| Rodolph conveyed was suliicient to ex- doom there may be in store for my com- | cite the suspicions of the baron of Al- panion and myself, but so darkly menac- | tendorf respecting your master. He ing were your words, that we have na- | accordingly despatched a letier secretly turally prepared ourselves for the worst. | and speedily to Vienna, with orders to I would however beseech ‘your reve-| institute the most searching inquiries rence to reflect well ere you proceed to | into the character of Sir trnest de Col- = ! ‘ ‘owny : . yy any fatal extremes against us; not only | nar and all that re gard d him. I he for our sake do I thus beseech you, but | agent thus employed was to devote him- likewise tor your Own 3 inasmuch aS he sell strictly to this business, and to this whom we serve has the power ae wreak | only, SO that his attention might not be a deadly vengeance on those who may diverted into other channels. Well, he injure us.’ | set off, he reached Vienna, and there ‘You allude to the man calling him- | he remained only a single hour, for his self Sir Ernest de Colmar?’ exclai inquiries were answered with an un- | | ) the Carthusian, fixing his eyes angrily | expected promptitude.’ upon the countenance of Lionel. ‘ Ah! ‘And those inquiries that menace of yours shall not serve | Lionel. your purpose, boy; for lam not to be ‘Interrupt me not, arrogant boy,’ intimidated thus! For look you, [know said the priest, his tone increasing In more of your master than you think.’ severity. ‘You can well divine how ‘Ah! you know him?’ ejaculated Lio-| those inquiries were answered! For nel and Konrad, both as it were in the | the very first question put by our agent same breath. on his arrival at Vienna elicited the ‘Yes, I know him to be an impostor | startling response that there was no and a cheat,’ replied the Carthusian,| such person known about the Ducal with exceeding bitterness of tone. Court as Sir Ernest de’ Colmar. Not ‘ Having gotten possession, heaven only | entirely satisfied with this information, knows how,of a letter which | addressed | the messenger repaired to the herald’s some time back to his Sovereign High- | office in the Ducal Chancery, and there ness the Duke of Austria, he availed| he inspected the list of the knights of himself of that document to obtain my|the duchy. But the name of Ernest confidence, doubtless with a view to|de Colmar figured not therein! Then, serve his own sinister purposes insome | without tarrying another moment in way or another. ‘hen by means of a| Vienna, and without deeming it neces- forged credential, he endeavored to pass | sary to ask another question, the mes- himself off amongst the nobles of Bohe- | senger set out on his return to Prague. mia as the representative of Duke Al-| Thus was it that your master became bert at the council. But fortunately he| known as a vile impostor; and had it was detected and unmasked at that as-| not been that he received the protection seinbly.’ of Zitzka, whose spy he doubtless is, ‘Impossible !’ exclaimed Lionel, col-| the vengeance of the Bronzo Statue oring with indignation. would have assuredly overtaken him ‘ Your Revereace knows not what}ere this, despite his escape from ws, you say,’ cried Konrad, in amazement. | who are its sworn instruments, on an ‘By the blessed Virgin! if you pro-| occasion wherewith you are doubtless voke me to convince you how well your | well acquainted.’ master’s true character is known to Ihe Carthusian alluded to that mem- me,’ returned the Carthusian, in a tone | orable night when Sir Ernest de Col- that was malignantly taunting and bit-| mar was rescued from his power by the terly sarcastic; ‘ I have no objection to Count de Rosenberg. gratify you on that head! Look you, 5 ‘ Your Reverence has said much that insolent boys, and mark well what I am has amazed me,’ exclaimed Lionel, abouttorevealto ye. When your mas- | when the priest had done speaking; ter arrived in Prague, he was a bearer!‘ but some portion of your speech ad- ’ exclaimed ———— —— SP comicbooks.com