The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

. - ww Ps — es } » 7 ~~ hs —— eee we .% PS SE PT er - i | a + a al rod i > ue 3 APS pa. “ow 3% 4 » = — ee oa , i ae at ts Ss A hy 5 Ee or. me os eee —_- 7 2s ’ * « - PTY. yw BIE NSE SOS y i — <3 — a ~~ — me ae - :_— <—_ = -_— s— ¥ sage, found himself ina room of moderate dimensions, into which the fresh air was admitted by a loop-hole looking on the moat of the Castle. Upon atable inthis room were various implements, jars containing liquids, and other articles, the uses of which Sir Ernest could no. immediately comprehend : but On perceiving that there was a furnace at one extremity of the place, and on re-con sidering the nature of the tools scattered on the board, he became convinced that this was the workshop where the necessary chemical preparations were compounded for polishing the statue and renovating its glossy bronze surface as occasion might re- quire. Indeed, a closer inspection proved that the furnace had been recently lighted—at all events, within the last few days; and thus did it become evident that these mys- terious apartments were‘not entirely shut up against every human being, but that they were periodically visited by some one having charge of the statue. Yet for what earthly purpose was such care bestowed upon that statue? If it were thus highly valued, wherefore was it con- cealed in so strange a place r—why was it buried in such sombre obscurity ? Surely the possessor of such a glorious work of art ought to huve displayed it in some conspic- uous part of the baronial mansion, where it would delight the eyes of all visitors and friends! Jt appeared to Sir Ernest a posi- tive sacrilege and desecration to consign so perfect an image of the Madonna to that disused chamber, instead of permitting it to grace the Castle chapel of the grand en- trance-hall. Besides, by leaving it in > room where such corroding damps prevailed, it seemed to be wantonly creating unnecessary trou- ble and toil fur the person or persons en- trusted with the care of the Statue; and | there was moreover a marvellous and unac- countable inconsistency in bestowing any | attention at all upon an object thus sedu- | lously veiled in the gloom of a dungeon. Such were the reflections -_—— ett etersstiseneeiseesineeeeremees Colmar as he surveyed the various imple- | ments evidently used in burnishing and re-| spite of that mag novating the surface of the Bronze Statue. | which knew not wh But his attention was speedily directed cold shudder ste tow«rds a door set in a deep recess in one | corner of the workshop; and, opened it without difficulty, steps, These Sir Ernest unhesitatingly descend- ed, shading the lamp with his hand; andat the bottom of the Slairs, he entered a var- row passage which he knew by its depth THE BRONZE STATUE. Sir Ernest, turnin contemplation of that diabolical] machiner must be below the level of the moat, But the fresh air poured down from the work shop above; and as the Knight advanced, the gentle rippling of water met his ears, At the extremity of the stone-ribbed passage a low arch-way, without a door, admitted Sir Ernest into a sinall vaulted chamber, which was however excedingly lofty. But most singular was the spectacle that here encountered his eyes! Six vast wooden cylinders were arranged in pairs, parallel toeach other, and extend- ing almost entirely across the room. At one end the axles on which these cylinders were suspended, fitted into the rugged wall: at the other extremity, they were supported by massive upright posts or jambs. Uhe uppermost pair of cylinders had a greater interval between them than the middle pair; and the third or lowest pair, were Closer still, Upon these cylinders innumerable iron blades were fastened, pro- jecting into the face of the ether, so that they crossed scissors-wise, At the extremity of each of the three cyl- inders on one side, there was a coil of rope wound round as on the drum belonging to a clock ; and the end of these three ropes,, passing through a common hole in an adja- cent post, sustained a heavy weight. It was therefore clear that this infernal] machinery was intended to be put in motion by some means which were not however ? pparent,, but that, when once set going, the move- ment would be prolonged by the weight un- til the coils of the rope should be com- pletely unwound Immediately above the mechanism, which reached almost to the top of the stone chamber, there was a trap-door set in the vaulted roof; and beneath the machinery tnurmured a deep stream of water—flowing from a low arch in the wall at one extremi- ty of the chamber, and through another arch at the opposite end. Such were the features of th:s subterra~ nean room—the awfully misterious specta- | cle that gradually developed all its sinister | that passad | details to the amazed and bewildered luoks rapidly through the mind of Sir Ernest de! of Sir Krnest de Colmar! In spite of his dauntless courage—in nanimity of disposition at danger was, he felt a al over him—an icy tre- form, as if a Clammy serpent were n his garments and his The sensation was horrible—horrible; and abruptly away from the threaded the passage, and ascended the stone stairs with a rapid step, as if every mor that wound its snake-like folds uround_ having | his he found that} creeping betwee it communicated with a steep flight of atone | flesh,