The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 191 i like air of avenging justice which|the moment when, having landed on seemed to grow uponthe Austrian war- | the bank of the Moldau, ubout a mile rior like a halo of supernal lustre. to the southward of Prague, they took » ‘Baroness Hamelen,’ he cried, it is; the nearest route towards the White useless that I should maintain any. far- | Mansion. ther duplicity towards you. ‘he name It was a little past midnight when by which I have introduced myself to | they reached this splendid edifice, and ou is a feigned one, and lam Sir Er- | on the wicket in the principal gate be- 7 > ~~ = eee eS = —" - —~— yo — ee oe . ~ & Fall ~~ nest de Colmar! Now tell me at once ing opened to them, the porter limme- —this instant—and equivocate not, but diately recognised the Baron ot A lten- Suy, what has become of my two faith- dort and the Marquis or Schomberg, ful pages !’ ‘to whom he made ua low obeisanee. — it ‘Your pages!’ ejaculated the baro-| was evident that their appearance at the a ness, darting a rapid glance of uneasi- | mansion both amazed aod delighted the | ness towards the water-clock. official: for he was of course no stran- i ‘Yes: the two faithful youths whom | ger to the fact that Zitzka had retained | | have succeeded in tracing to the White them captive in the Castle of Prague, hie Mansion!’ exclaimed Sir Ernest de and hence the mingled feelings which i Colmar. ‘Speak, wretched woman !’ their unexpected presence excited in he cried, drawing his dagger, ‘or | his mind. - will not spare you!’ | ¢JTs her ladyship at home?’ inquired ? ‘ Mercy—mercy 1? shrieked the ba- | the Marquis of Schomberg. roness, falling upon her knees and clasp- ‘Yes, my lord. and will be overjoyed ing her hands with frantic gesture. | to welcome you,’ responded the porter, . Mercy! tor what ?? thundered De with it significancy which made the Colmar. . Is if fl confession ot murder | nobleman coutract his brows with at de-~ that is implied by that prayer ?” 'precating expression, while he glanced 7h ‘Mercy, IL say, mercy "’ screamed the | hastily towards the Count de Rosen- 8 baroness, her wildly-flashing eyes glanc- | berg and Angela, as much as to remind i { ing towards the clock. ithe menial that there were strangers im | It was the half-hour! | present. | ‘Ah! then thou art a murderess, vile The marquis and the baron then led wretch, or Jeagued with murderers,’ the way across the spacious court-yard, exclaimed the knight; ‘and, woman the count and our heroine following though thou art, yet shall my ven- ‘them. Entering the hall, they were geance immediately aceosted by three or four . Spare me ! spare me "7 shrieked the | pages, lLMmonYg whom was Ermach—this baroness, as the poniard glistened be- | youth having that moment retired from fore her eyes. ‘the interview with Sir Ernest de Col- ‘ Confess all—everything !’ cried De | mar, as related in the preceding chap- Colmar, ‘or, by the heaven above ys—’ | ter ‘Lhe presence of the marquis and His words were cut short by the sud- | baron excited on the part of these pages den opening of the door, and a@ posse similar feelings to those already expe- of armed men, wearing black masks, rienced by the porter at the gate ; and rushed into the room. they offered their congratulations to the The baroness sprang to her feet with | two noblemen on their deliverance from an exulting cry, at the same instant that | captivity. those sworn servitors of the Tribunal of| ‘ We thank ye sincerely, young sirs,’ the Bronze Statue made De Colmar their said the Marquis, hastily, ‘and we pee prisoner. | that four good steeds may be saddled But scarcely had this incident taken | without delay for our use.’ lace, when the door was again burst ‘Likewise that an escort of at least violently open, and a figure in complete eight men be ordered to attend upon armor, with closed vizor, entered the us,’ added the Baron of Altendorf.— Gallery of Porcelain Vases. ‘+ And now that you have heard our com- f mands, see that they be executed promptly, while some refreshments are | served up to us.’ } | ; “, Es aes ‘Father Cyprian is here, my lord,’ } FATHER scan earns THE FOREST | said one of the pages. y , i 65 | «Ah! so much the better,’ exclaimed We must now return to Angela and | the Marquis of Schomberg. ‘He will the three noblemen whom we left at! counsel us how to proceed- A a - . , = ‘ Pk a rn ° —: Pa — é F ; a se a ee ? CHAPTER XLVI. EE ee ee ‘ é comicbooks.com