The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. object of her evanescent terror, her aware that it was the countenance of the Daughter of Glory that was look- ‘don turn the kindne ing down intently upon her: ‘Be silent,—give not vent to either , her?’ alarm or surprise!’ said the radiant | coming gently remonstrative in a low, rapid, and imperious! than sternly severe. being, tone; and withdrawing from Angela’s| explanation,’ exclaimed the forest-mai- den, in atone of mingled entreaty and countenance those eyes which shone with a preternatural lustre in the midst of the twilight obscurity, she swept her searching looks around the apartment. ‘Yes, there indeed is the armor which you have worn,’ she observed, in a mus- ing tone, as her glance settled for a few instants upon the panoply, ‘and I am not deceived !’ ‘ Decéived in what, lady?’ inquired Angela, timidly, for she did not know 69 - > to what motive to attribute this extra-| ordinary visit on the part of Gloria, and she feared lest she was about to be re- proached for the part she had played | In| concerning the State Prisoners. * what respect do you say that you are not deceived ?’ again asked Angela, ina gentle and conciliatory tone. ‘ ‘In the fact that you are the unknown now travelling with Sir Ernest de Col- mar,’ responded the Daughter of Glory, in a voice that was sombre, gloomy, and almost menacing. ‘But listen to me attentively,’ she suddenly resumed, after a few moments’ pause, during which the forest-maiden was bewilder- ed what to think or how to act in re- spect to Gloria’s presence in her chan- ber,—‘ listen to me attentively, I say, and interrupt me not! When you were rescued from the deep waters of} tide w the Moldau, my handmaidens succored | at once to the spot. you al with difficulty over the huge stones Then, in the evening of that| whicli lie at the foot of the castle wall, d with! and which the ebb of the Moldau leaves the tenderest care and attention to the | bare, apartments which had been | stream, and was instantaneously you and my pavilion furnished couch. same day, you were conducte suite of repared for my reception in the Castle | away by the current. of Prague. For several days did you sojourn there 1 with the cold ceremony of a mere stran- ger.’ ‘Yes, lady, your conduct w kind and most generous towards me,’ said Angela, in a low and plaintive tone —‘+and Lam well aware that you are about to tax me with the deepest ingra- titude:—or rather, with the basest breach of a noble hospitality.’ ¢ And will not my reproach be just?’ asked the Daughter of Gloria, on whose sunny hair the pensile streaks of the | eee n my company; and [| made will appeal to you whether | treated | lady. you with the affection of a friend or| all these details, my object 245 made | dawn now played through the casement. ‘For to what purpose did Angela Wil- ss which she re- ceived and the confidence reposed in continued Gloria, her tone be- rather ‘Permit me to offer a few words of firmness. ‘Particular reasons which | shall not pause to describe, prompted me to undertake a task which at first seemed nearly impossible, and as in- sane as it was hopeless. ‘This was the deliverance of the State Prisoners from the Castle of Prague. From my forest home [ journeyed; and, after many delays and some few adventures, | ar- rived in the Bohemian capital. ‘The very next morning, at an early hour, | sallied furth from the inn to view that dread fortalice in which the noble pri- soners were confined. ‘The questions which I put, with an air of common curiosity, to the loiterers and the boat- men upon the river’s bank, made me acquainted with the fact that there was a canal entrance into the castle. The horrors of legendary lore and the ter- rors of superstition had invested that caverned avenue with a more than com- mon interest; and thus the men to whom I addressed myself, were as com- municative as their knowledge on the subject would permit them tobe. At all events I heard enough to excite within me the determination to inspect that vaulted river passage; and as the as very low at the time, I repaired But while toiling [ missed my footing, fell into the borne Sir Ernest de Colmar rescued me, and this incident me acquainted witn yourself But if 1 have wearied you with has merely been to convince you that the release of the State Prisoners was not an idea as most| suggested by my sojourn in the Castle lof Prague, but a purpose already set- ‘'tled and firmly rooted in my mind.— Were it otherwise, you might with justice accuse me of treachery; but | swear to you most solemnly that when your hospitality led me to become an inmate of the Castlo of Prague, I had already been concerting with myself how I should ebtain admission within