The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. ‘And how shall you word this fine description of yours? asked Linda, who had gradually assumed the tone and manner of a familiar but harmless chit- chat. ‘T shall tell my comr to relieve me,’ replied th if he can only fancy the Lady S with golden hair and a complexion e soldier, ‘ that white as a lily, he will then have the} Lady Gloria in his mind’s eye to per- | } { just now has been gossiping with you | on the subject.’ fection.’ ‘Good!’ ejaculated Linda. ‘ Mind you do not fail to impress this explana- tion upon the understanding of your comrade, whoever he may be.’ And having thus spoken, Linda hur- ried along the passage to the chamber | ' a which she and Beatrice had occupied until they were summoned in the middle of the night,—or rather at so early ap hour in the morning, to attend upon their guilty mistress. In a few minutes, she retraced her steps with some articles of apparel in her hand; and, having paused to ex- change a few more friendly observations with the sentinel, she re-entered the 4 chamber of the Daughter of Glory. CHAPTER LVIII. THE SECOND SENTINEL. Aw hour elapsed; and at the expira- tion of this interval the guard was re- lieved in the usual manner, just as if the ceremony were being performed in a fortified city or an encampment. Scarcely had the second sentinel thus assumed his post at the door of Gloria’s chamber, when Linda issued forth again into the passage ; but she instan- taneously closed the door behind her. ‘My respects to you, maiden,’ said the Taborite, with that half-familiarity of tone and manner which showed that he was claiming the renewal of an ac- uaintance that had previously existed. ‘Ah! is it you, Gondibert?’ exclaim- ed Linda, instantly recognising the sol- dier, whom she also knew by name,— and with a secret feeling of satisfaction at the circumstance of the second sen- tinel being thus an old acquaintance, she said, ‘The last time 1 saw you was when you mounted guard at the en- trance of the Ludy Satanais’ tent in the wood where we were encamped a few weeks ago.’ ‘And since that period I have be- ade who comes | perbaps atanais | that never until this day did I dream of as | the Lady Satanais having a sister.’ | Gondibert. | relieving him. And if we had not spo- kena word or two concerning the Ludy 229 longed to the garrison of the adjacent market-town,’ observed Gondibert. ‘But although I am well pleased to meet you again, fair maiden, yet 1 am crieved that it should be under such circum- stances as the present. And you may be surprised when | assure you ‘Indeed! ejaculated Linda. ‘I sup- pose that the sentinel who was on duty ‘Well, he certainly paused for a few minutes to discourse with me,’ said ‘But this was in some de- gree necessary, you know, inasmuch as th cy =. A e sentry going off guard invariably ives the countersign and any other par- ‘ticulars of importance to the soldier * . te ~ a ; : ; , ; ] A br? Gloria, how should I have known any- thing about the prisoner whose escape it is my duty to prevent ?’ ‘True,’ observed Linda, apparently struck by the force of these observa-~ tions. ‘And I suppose that your pre- decessor here on duty did not forget to inform you that the Lady Satanais ts even now with her sister the Lady Gloria ?” ‘The Lady Satanais here !’ exclaim- ed Gondibert. gazing upon Linda with the most unfeigned astonishment, ‘ In- deed I received no such information ; but I heard it stated down stairs, before I came up to relieve guard, that Suta- nais was expected in the course of the forenoon, and it was in consequence of an appointment which she had made with her sister that the latter was per- mitted to remain here a few hours longer, instead of being immediately removed to the nearest gaol.’ ‘Yes, this delay was accorded by the worthy magistrate,’ said Linda. ‘Bat | do not think that my poor mistress will remain another hour beneath this roof, inasmuch as her sister arrived earlier than was originally expected.’ ‘ And the Lady Satanais is here now?” exclaimed Gondibert, interrogatively. ‘I have already told you so,’ returned Linda. | ‘It is singular that I did not hear of her arrival: down stairs just now,’ ob- served the sentinel. ‘ But it might have happened when [ was in the sta- ble attending to my horse ‘Very probably,’ said Linda. * But what really surprises me is, that your predecessor on guard in this passage comicbooks.com