The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. proud lord of that stronghold shall have even suspected your hostile intentions. The head-qaarters of the dreaded tri- bunal thus falling into your power, the votaries of that association will be stricken with terror, and the rewards which I shall induce the king to offer for their betrayal and deliverance into the hands of justice, will spread contfu- sion amongst them and set treachery to. work. The result will be the destruc- tion of this terrible fraternity; and your daughter will be spared the painful ne- cessity of flying her country for ever when she becomes of an age to take the veil.” ‘+* Father Heracles,” said Ildegardo, embracing the holy man, *‘you have demonstrated towards me a friendship | which I can never repay. My eternal gratitude is, however, yours—aye, and the gratitude of my beloved Emilia.”’ +«¢God grant that all our plans may succeed,” said Father Heracles. ‘I shall now retire to my own chamber to prepare for the morrow’s journey, and to implore the protection of heaven on behalf of the innocent babe which has just been born.” ‘But scarcely had the priest with- drawn by a private means of egress at the extremity of the apartment, when the door at the opposite end opened with a sudden violence, and the Baron of Altendorf appeared upon the thresh- old. The Lord of Ildegardo turned pale and trembled; for it instantane-, ously struck him that the dreaded chiet- tain might have overheard the conver-| sation between himself and Father He-_ racles; and this suspicion was strength- ened when he beheld the gloom that sate like a dark cloud upon the Baron | of Altendorf’s countenance, and through which the fierce eyes darted vivid light- nings. ‘ « My visit to your lordship’s castle this day has been most opportune,” said the terrible chief of the tribunal of the Bronze Statue, at length breaking silence as he advanced close up to the Baron of Ildegardo; ‘yes, as oppor- tune as was my last visit five months ago,’’ he added in atone of significant irony. +s Ah! then you have been playing the eaves-dropper, my lord?”’ exclaim- ed my noble master, his indignation suddenly triumphing over his terrors ; and he laid his hand upon his sword. ‘+ Stay !—attempt said the Baron of Altendortf ; | Task your lordship to reflect upon all not violence !” | reply ; but he stood with downcast eyes ‘remem- before that dreaded chief, like a child A I 301 | ber that your young wife lies in a neigh- boring chamber, and that the clash of /weapons would alarm her. But if you would repeat your taunt relative to the eaves-dropping which I may have prac- ‘tised, your lordship would do well to pause and reflect whether you have me- ditated any blacker treachery towards me. Nay—interrupt me not for a few moments,” continued the baron, as LI- degardo made an impatient gesture; ‘‘but hear me out. Five months have elapsed since I conducted you into the subterraneans where the tribunal of the 3ronze Statue punish those who offend ‘against its laws; and on that memora- ‘ble night I revealed to you the secret of ‘the appalling punishments so, inflicted. On the following day 1 came to your castle to ascertain the effect which that ‘scene had produced upon your mind in ‘ealmer moments; and, behold! on ‘reaching the door of the apartment ‘where you were engaged in conference — the baroness and a certain priest, | | | a -~ — > > = ¢ > ° > «~<a - o 7 = =a f = . 7 Oe *% 7 i.e = - . ned ee ae > ts ae = te : arm »*~ ‘ > fee - - tab. c’ ; . - : =. fe Pte a's et ee i cA a a 9 "4 mine ears caught words which made me pause and listen. ‘Then [| learnt all the fine projects which that dotard He- _racles propounded as the means of res- | cuing your first-born from the service ‘of the Bronze Statue; and enraged at ‘the readiness with which your lordship |! assented to the treachery, I closed with violence the door which I had opened with gentleness. Five months have passed since those incidents; and my spies, ever on the alert, announced to me at an early hour this morning that the Lady Emilia was about to become ‘a mother. Again, therefore, do I visit your lordship’s castle to remind you of the compact so solemnly formed with me three years and five months ago— and again do | catch words, the instant that I reach the door of your apartment, which transfix me there and compel me ‘to play the part of what you denomi- nate aneaves-dropper. And now when that has just taken place between Fa- ‘ther Heracles and yourself, | should be | well pleased to learn which you con- fone the more reprehensible—your | | ’ treacherous intentions towards the man who saved your dwelling from sack and storm, or my eaves-dropping !” ‘Covered with shame and confusion, and keenly appreciating all the truth ‘and justice of the Baron of Altendort’s , cutting observations, Lord Ildegardo | could pot give utterance to a word in comicbooks.com