The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 189 work out the object of his visit to the mansion. ‘May it please you, sir,’ said the young page Ermach, entering the cham- ber with a low obeisance, ‘my noble mistress has sent me to conduct you to her presence.’ ‘IT am prepared to follow you, fair youth,’ answered De Colmar. ‘ But in the first place permit me to have a word with you.’ ‘With me, sir!’ ejaculated Ermach, starting with surprise. ‘Yes; with you,’ cried De Colmar, clutching him by the shoulder: then, speaking in a low, rapid, and emphatic voice, he said, ‘ There is something in 'from his cheeks, ‘I pray thee, sir, to your countenance, boy, which betokens | an ingenuous soul and an honest frank- ness of character. If I be deceived, then never was a false heart more skil- fully concealed under a winning mask. But, by heaven! I have touched some tender chord in your breast! ’ exclaimed the knight: ‘for you are weeping ; you are weeping !’ ‘Oh! sir—the words which you have uttered had a kindness in them But the youth could say no more: his voice was choked with sobs. ‘Now calm yourself, poor boy,’ said De Colmar, in a tone so soothing that Ermach looked up and smiled through his tears with an expression of bound- less gratitude. ‘ What can I do for you! Tell me—’ ‘Oh! take me hence; help me to get away from this place!’ exclaimed the youth, clasping his hands in passionate entreaty. ‘I will—I will!’ returned the knight. ‘But tranquillise yourself and answer me a few questions.’ ‘ Anything I can—everything I know,’ cried the boy hastily. * But delay not, or suspicion will be engendered: for within these accursed walls, mistrust prevails constantly and everywhere.’ ‘[ pledge my word that I will bear thee hence, if thou wilt but show me the best and most ready means of egress when the moment comes that [ may wish to depart,’ said Sir Ernest: ‘ and thou shalt enter my service, which is the service of an honest man !’ he added proudly. ‘ Heaven’s blessing be upon your head!’ murmured Ermach, well nigh overcome by feelings of Joys surprise, and gratitude—tor he could scarcely be- lieve that such sudden good fortune was otherwise thanadream. ‘ And now,’ ooo he exclaimed, dashing away the tears hasten and question me in whatever manner thou wilt, for we must not tarry here many minutes longer. It would be as much as my life is worth—Oh! yes, my very life, if I were found thus conversing.’ ‘ We will not waste another moment, boy,’ interrupted De Colmar. ‘Tell me, then, whether within the last five or six days, two tall and handsome youths, ‘nineteen years of age, and dressed in green velvet doublets: ——’ ‘ Yes, the two youths whom you thus describe, were introduced hither a few nightsback,’ exclaimed Ermach. ‘They changed their apparel in this room, and here,’ he continued, opening a chest in one corner of the apartment, ‘are the garments which they wore when they arrived.’ ‘The same, the very same!’ ejacu- lated De Colmar, instantaneously recog- nising the ordinary attire of his two missing servitors. ‘Thank God! | have succeeded in tracing the poor boys thus far. But tell me, good youth—tell me a , —————eeooo ‘Oh! if you mean to ask me what has become of those two youths,’ in- terrupted Ermach, ‘I am unable to an- swer you. That they disappeared sud- denly, is certain; but how or where- fore | know not. And now, kind sir, [ implore thee to hasten and bring thy questioning to an end,’ exclaimed the youth, evidently laboring under a ner- vous agitation that was rapidly increas- ing into actual terror. ‘Qne word more,’ said the ‘Knight, ‘is Father Cyprian known to you? and is he within these walls at this mo- ment ?’ ‘He arrived here this evening, about an hour and a half ago,’ responded the page; ‘and her ladyship was alone with him, no doubt in deep conference, until the moment when she sent me hither to conduct you to her presence.’ ‘Ah! so the priest is here ?’ observed De Colmar, in a musing tone, ‘ then, it behoves me to act alike with prompti- tude’ and caution. Boy,’ he added, turning toward the page, ‘I have pro- mised to take thee into my service ; and I do not regret that pledge. Thy frank- ness has won my confidence, and thine open countenance has not belied your disposition. I am now prepared to fol- low thee to the presence of thy mis- tress; but it may be that our interview will prove a short one, and it may like- wise happen that I shall be compelled comicbookKs.com | y y é{ + t t