The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

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She will) bers of this ruined fortalice, with the rise in the morning refreshed and able certainty that slumber will soon visit to continue her journey, and the irrita- mine eyes.’ tion of her wound will have subsided. | *At all events I will render your ex- Thus speaking, the venerable Ber-|cellency’s sojourn here as little dis- nard led the way to his cell, where the | agreeable as possible,’ said Bernard. handmaidens placec their unconscious |* And first I will show your grooms mistress uponthe couch. ‘The old man| where the horses may be stabled for the retired; but Sir Ernest de Colmar lin- | night.’ gered a few momebts to satisly bimself | ‘Do so, kind-hearted old man,’ re- that his beloved Satanais was not in any | joined our hero; ‘and I shall await actual danger; and upon receiving from | your return with some impatience, in- Linda the assurance that the pulsations | asmuch as I am anxious to learn from of her heart were gradually becoming | your lips the legend attached to the stronger, he withdrew, closing the door | three ruined fortalices.’ ; behind him. ‘Ishall relate it with willingness,’ At the same moment one of the | observed the octogenarian, mournfully, grooms, having ascended the spiral|‘but I cannot say that it will be with staircase, made his appearance on the | pleasure.’ roof of the Donjon, and accosting his} Then, bidding the groom follow him, master, the man said, ‘I have made |the old man turned to descend the spi- bold to follow your excellency hither to | ral staircase, while Sir Ernest de Col- state that the stranger in the steel ar- | mar went and tapped gently at the door mor enjoined me to convey his fare-|of the cell. Linda came forth in an- wells to your excellency |swer to the summons, and by the cau- ‘What! has he taken his departure?’ | tion which she observed in opening and demanded our hero, seized with min-| closing the door, the knight instantane- gled surprise and vexation at this new | ously concluded that the Daughter of proof of the unknown warrior’s eccen- | Satan had recovered from her swoon tricity of conduct. and was sleeping. The surmise proved ‘Yes,’ responded the groom. ‘ He/|to be correct; and he retired from the bid me inform your excellency that bu- | vicinage of the cell, rejoicing that all siness of weight and gravity would not | danger was passed aud that the object permit him to tarry longer; and re-|of his love had sunk into a refreshing tracing his way to the spot where he | slumber. had left his steed browsing upon the Taking his. station at‘ that point grass on the bank of the Moldau, he | whence the view embraced the two di- galloped away in yonder direction.’ lapidated fortalices of Manfredo and ‘That is the road towards Altendorf | Georgey, the knight contemplated those Castle,’ said Bernard, observing the | dark masses of ruins which crowned point indicated by the groom. ‘ But | their respective hills, and he marvelled now that your excellency will become | what strange fatality could have reduced my guest for the night,’ continued the | them, together with the Castle of Ilde- old man, turning towards Sir Ernest de | gardo, to their present lorn and deplor- Colmar, ‘it behoves me to inform you | able condition. Presently his eye tra- that beyond food for yourself and com- 'velled away from the dismantled tow- panions, and stabling® with provender | ers and crumbling battlements in the for your steeds, I am unable to offer {south-east and in the east; and, wan- any comfortable accommodations. [/ dering over the entire landscape from mean in respect to beds and warm | the far-off horizon to the very wall of chambers that ruined stronghold on whose Doa- ‘You are apologising toa man who jon he was now standing, his looks set- has passed many and many a night up- | tled at last upon the spot which Ber- on the battle-fields of Hungary and Tur- | nard had pointed out to him with so key,’ said De Colmar, with a smile; much excitement, and where the trunk ‘and to whom, therefore, the absence | of a lightning-struck tree hung over the of a downy bed and a curtained apart-!limpid Moldau. ment can scarcely seema privation. A} ‘hen, as De Colmar gazed down morse] of bread and a cup of cold water | upon this spot, he remembered that the will suffice for my supper; and, wrap- | old man had spoken of it as infamously ped in the warm mantie wuich { carry | celebrated on accouut of having been fastened behind my saddle, I can lay | the place where the remains of some ‘ | oy SF - ’ 3 comicbooks.com