The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 163 ing. But as these loop-holes were ra-|} ‘Ah! then there is hope even in this ther serviceable for air than light, three | new misfortune which awaits us!’ ex~ lamps, suspended to the ceiling, shed | claimed Lionel, catching at the old their mellow lustre throughout the ‘man’s words. apartment. ‘Oh! speak, speak, good Hubert!’ ‘he room was comfortably furnished, cried Konrad. +‘ Relieve us, if possible and was evidently fitted up to accom-/| from despair. You say that we must modate numerous guests. A large ta-| remain dead to the world. unless ble occupied the centre, and around it; ‘ Unless some happy incident should there were placed at least fifty chairs. | so change the position of affairs,’ added Upon the shelves in the apartment ap-|the old steward, ‘as to annihilate the peared as many drinking-horns and/ power of the Bronze Statue and there- platters, together with several dishes, | by restore you and many others to the and the various articles necessary for emjoyene nt ot freedom.’ | the housekeeping of a considerable num- ' ber of persons. _——— oo” —- Seer ee ee lO ‘And should no such fortunate occur- rence arise!’ demanded Konrad, how In addition to the huge portal of ma- epaappetoly sick at heart. sonry already described, this room had ‘Then, alas! the remainder of your eight doors, four on one side and four on ; lives must be spent in this place,’ re- the other ; but as they were all closed |sponded the old steward in a tone of at the time when the two youths enter- | deep solemnity. ' ed, they obtained at the moment no idea ‘ What, imprisonment for life!’ eja- of what nature the chambers were with | culated Konrad, starting from his seat. which they communicated, ‘’he large |‘ Oh! no—no, you could not be so cruel apartment itself was unoccupied when | —it is impossible—impossible !’ they were introduced to it; and yet, as ‘Consider, good Hubert,’ broke in already observed, there was every ap-/| Lionel, ‘we are young—oh! so very pearance of accommodation for nume-| young to be snatched away from the rous guests. great world! We have fond parents Hubert bade the youths be seated, | still living, relations and friends. who and the three brothers hastened to set|are anxious concerning our welfare; wine, fruits, and other refreshments |and a thousand, thousand inducements before them. ‘l’hey then retired by one |to make us cling to the busy active life of the doors just alluded to, and the two | from which you would tear us away !’ pages were thus left alone with the old | My poor ‘boy s, you wring tears from steward. |my eyes,’ said the old man, ia a voice ‘ Drink a cup of wine, fair boys,’ said | that was weak and tremulous through this functionary > ‘ and partake of a | emotions profoundly agitated, ‘but lam morsel of food. I will then give you/ unable to give you consolation. Reflect certuin explanations which will prepare | for a minute ere you blame me, and ou for a new mode of life.’ ask yourselves from what I have saved ‘hese words struck ominously upon|you! But you know not, you cannot the ears of Lionel and Konrad, and | guess, you are unable to divine the hid- caused them to start as if with a con-|eous nature of that death to which an vulsive spasm ; for it instantly occurred | atrocious tyranny condemned yon, and to them that although their lives were | from which I have rescued you. Were saved, yet their liberties were at stake. | you fully enlightened on this head, you ‘hey accordingly hastened to drink | would throw yourselves at my feet and some wine and partake of other refresh- | worship me as your guardian angel,— ment, so that the old steward might} Imprisonment for life, immurement in commence his explanations as soon as|the living tomb of these apartments, possible ; and when he perceived that|separation from the great and busy they had made an end of their repast,| world without for the remainder of he addressed them in the following | your days ; oh! all this were nothing, terms : nothing in comparison with the appal- ‘Fair youths, your manner has al-|} ling doom whence | have snatched you, ready convinced me that you have fore- Take all the horrors which the imagi- seen a part of that destiny which is in| nation may devise—take all the cruel- store for you. It is true that your lives|ties w hich the devilish ingenuity of are saved, at the expense of your liber-| man has ever conceived, —mingle them ties. Henceforth must ye remain dead } together, concentrate them, extract their to the world, unless indeed the happy} essence, and then you will form somé day should arrive ; idea of the hideous nature of that death — ee = ee Se 3 * heeft “> A ee -— - > . > . € o> ba . es ae - ~ eS a re > ¢ we - me ps fx © de - t + P Sap S _ i oe : are Y=. uae - . ’ ge ee « ~ * La all =~ > © a a 4 —_ ee ie En ge ant A ‘> = “ser seg Co tet “~~ —_. a ~ Nerina T= a« 4 - <n, - ee aa ‘—v dsaee f* TP ro a z 4 Oe? , a —— = * s rm & in goa, @ 8a? é a on 6 ate a -— ». _ comicbooks.com