The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

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Se -&” «+ --— - oe —_ i~< ——i 160 brace, ‘and likewise to those innocent and lovely maidens whose images have dwelt in our hearts.’ ‘ Linda and Beatrice will never know our fate, Konrad,’ interrupted Lionel; ‘and it were better, oh! far better that it should be thus !’ ‘Time is wearing on, young men,’ said Hubert, in a low and even tremu- lous tone; ‘and once more must I com- mend ye to your devotions.’ The pages grasped each other’s hands for a moment, exchanged looks of en- couragement and consolation, and then sank once more upon their knees in the presence of the rude stone crucifix. ‘Now may ye retire, my good friends,’ observed Hubert, addressing himself to the two armed men; ‘for your guar- dianship over these youths 1s required no longer. ‘l'hey are safe in the custody of the sworn servitors of the Bronze Statue ; and it is unlawful for ye, men of the sword as ye are, to witness the ceremony of the Virgin's Kiss.’ ‘True, worthy Hubert,’ responded one of Father Cyprian’s bravos; ‘we know our duties in that respect, and we should have withdrawn the moment we had delivered the youths into the hands of the three executioners, had they not fainted away. to remain to see that they recovered—’ ‘And ye may make the usual report| to your master, good friends,’ interrupt- ed Hubert, with evident impatience. ¢ Yes, we shall assure his reverence that we duly surrendered our prisoners into the keeping of your worthy self and the executioners,’ observed the bravo who had previously spoken. ‘ But where is the lamp to guide me and my comrade back through the vaults and passages? For often as we have thread- ed them, we know them not sufficient- ly, | ween, to be able to traverse them in the dark.’ ‘IT will ight you through the chamber of the Statue into the room where the bronzing implements are kept; and there you can procure another lamp.’ hus speaking, Hubert led the way from the circular chapel, followed b the twoarmed men. Yes, and followed also by the looks of the two pages; for the door communicating with the Cham- ber of the Statue was left open, and an irresistible impulse, amounting to a hor- rible fascination, compelled Lionel and gaze into the apartment where the rays of the lamp which Hubert earried speedily flashed upon the colossal image, Curiosity prompted us so awful, so truly appalling in the open THE BRONZE STATUE. Another moment, and the light disap- peared through the door leading into the | passage communicating with the room that served as a workshop. And now darkness and silence pre- vailed in the circular chapel; darknesg and silence enveloped the fated youths, a darkness as ebon asif they themselves were blind, and a silence as profound ag if the very respiration were suspended, | And horrible thoughts had already swept back into the minds of the two pages, dispelling the halo of resignation | and holy confidence which devotion had for a moment shed round their souls; | for the dialogue which passed between Hubert and the armed men, though carried on in a low whispering, had reached their ears, and from that con- versation had they learnt that the three sable figures were styled Evecutioners ! That such they in reality were, had been previously more than suspected by the youths. The solemn answer return- ed by Hubert when the foremost of the black shapes had demanded wherefore they were summoned, had not only con- firmed that idea, but had likewise struck the two pages with the consternation which had rendered them senseless for atime. But still there was something and undisguised mention of the word executioners—something so terribly cal- culated to freeze the blood in the veins, make the flesh creep upon the bones, and cause the hair to stand en end, that it struck with the effect of an ice-shaft to the very heart’s-core of each fated youth, reviving in an instant all the hor- rors which religious devotion and holy reliance were subduing. Thus was it that the darkness seemed terrible, and the silence was fraught with consternation to Lionel and Kon- rad. Still they knelt, side by side, upon | the granite block : still their hands were clasped, and still their countenances were turned in the direction of that door which communicated with the | Chamber of the Statue. There was not even arustle of garments nor a sound of breathing in the circular chapel. Deep as was the darkness, so profound was the silence that prevailed,—and in that darkness and that silence did they ap- | pear to be entombed ! And quickly—Oh ! quickly sped the fancy to conjure up imaginar , 4a? Be? | | naginary horrors ‘Konrad thus to plunge their terrified | 5 J in addition to those that were real and imminent. For the youths felt their brains growing dizzy and whirling; and it seemed to them that the three figured comicbooks.com e .. ti