The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. he stopped short in his hurried and uneven walk, composed his counte- nance—on which an expression of fiend- ish malice and infernal Ariumph had again spread—and observed in a sort of explanatory tone, * You have related events at which my soul has been deeply moved, inasmuch as I am ac- quainted with all the personages con- cerned.’ ‘But your reverence has not yet heard of the arrest of the young gen- tleman in the steel armor,’ said the landlady. ‘Ah! what, is he in custody? ex- claimed the Carthusian. ‘Not at all,’ responded the hostess. who was now determined to have a lit- tle of the talk to herself, her husband having enjoyed his full share. ‘He was arrested, though, and on a charge of having effected the liberation of the three State prisoners from the Castle of Prague; but after a private exami- nation, the magistrate set him free with only a small fine, and he went quietly and comfortably away with Sir Ernest de Colmar,’ ‘Of course the knight knows who he is ?’ said the Carthusian interrogatively. ‘Really I believe he does not, holy father,’ replied the landlady ; ‘for al- tnough the magistrate was close enough in respect to what had taken place at the private examination, the lieutenant who commanded the Taborite guard, got pretty communicative when my husband invited him into this room at the close ot the proceedings, and set a flask of wine before him. He then told us that the young gentleman in ar- mor had posijively refused to mention who he was or what was his name : and that Sir Ernest de Colmar had declared his ignorance thereof, but had spoken highly of his valor and generosity of heart. lieve in this ignorance on the knight’s part,’ continued the landlady,’ becanse on the same evening that the par- ty arrived at our house, Ermach— alas! poor youth, he little thought at the time that he was destined never to behold another sunrise !—but, as I was saying, Ermach came into this room and began to chatter with me and my hus- band; and in the course of conversa- tion he observed that a deep mystery surrounded the young gentleman in the complete suit of armor—but what the mystery was, he could not for the life of him guess. So said Ermach, I can assure your reverence; and he more- fam the more inclined to be-| -—-— _—.. 207 over declared that Sir Ernest de Col- mar wes not only ignorant of the young gentleman’s name, but had not even be- held his countenance. Hence is it ap- parent enough that the knight told the truth to the magistrate.’ ‘Clearly so,’ observed the Carthusi- an. ‘ But time is waxing on,’ he sud- denly exclaimed, ‘and our party must once more getto horse. Will you com- mand the steeds to be brought forth from the stables, worthy host?” ‘This instant, holy father.’ was the prompt reply ; and the landlord hasten- ed forth into the court-yard of the es- tablishment to issue the requisite com- mands to the hostlers. ‘One more cup of cordial, ma r ’ ' ’ ee | it | please your reverence?’ said the land- lady ina tone of gentle entreaty. ‘i thank ‘you for your kindness,’ an- beat ie the priest; but I dare not ac- | cept it. My head is not the strongest in the world, so far as liquor is con- cerned. By the bye,’ he added, a sud- den thought striking him as he was about to quit the room, ‘what became of the two handmaidens whom your husband represented as being attendant on the Lady Gloria ?’ ‘They continued their journey south- ward, in company with Sir Ernest de Colmar,’ replied the hostess. | Ah! T understand,’ ejaculated the | priest, as if this information corres- /ponded with a certain idea which he | had formed and which was now upper- /most in his mind; then, as he issued from the bar-parlor, he murmured to himself, ‘ Yes, everything confirms my ‘Suspicion aad proves that I have read | the mystery aright! And now, Mari- | etta, tremble—Oh! tremble, Sister Ma- rietta; for in spite of all thy devices— /aye, and in spite of all the protecting Influence which the Captain-General of ‘the Taborites may cast around thee, will I be signally avenged !” Thus murmured the Carthusian priest to himself as he proceeded from the bar-parlor to the court-yard, in order to ascertain if the steeds were caparisoned and in readiness for the continuation of the journey. But instead of beholding | anything satisfactory in that respect, he was struck with mingled surprise and curiosity at observing the landlord and all his dependants, together with the eight armed servitors of the Bronze Statue, the mutes, the postilions, and the pages, all crowding around a tra- veller who had apparently just arrived }at the inn—for he was still holding in ee ee gg comicbooks.com