The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

* » rap) - 4 3 te ya d . Ras” 4. # p ‘ Ay ole ,* we » +. "= ' > | =. { i * > f sop : ee ee ‘ RET TNL AEST PTO — * >. fe ; 7 ““ silts a 310 THE BRONZE STATUE. She nevertheless declared her firm be- lief in her husband’s innocence; and | Baron Georgey either shared her con- viction in this respect, or affected to do so in order to save her from any addrtional; source of grief. On arriving at Georgey Castle a few hours after my excellent mistress and her daughter, | was shocked to hear of | the arrest of my master by Baron Man- | fredo : but as messengers had been al- ready dispatched to treat with this no- bleman for the liberation of his prison- | er, I buoyed myself up with the hope | that his lordship’s release would be speedily accomplished. On the return of the messenger, however, it appeared that Baron Manfredo peremptorily re- fused to listen to any terms——alleging that the Lord of Illdegardo was accused of murdering a priest, and that he must be retained in custody until the King of Bohemia should have decided upon the proper course to be adopted in the mat- ter. ‘This decision crowned the sorrow ofthe already too deeply afflicted Ba- roness; and another consultation was held with her father, and to which I was summoned. Then was it that for the first time I learnt as much of all the mystery of this sad narrative as Emilia herself knew; and I was dispatched to Manfredo Castlé to beg that her lady- ship might be permitted to visit her husband. This boon was sternly re- fused by the vindictive peer; and all the favor I could obtain was an inter- view with my captive master. Irom his lips did I hear on this occasion all the particulars which filled up the gap in the history as related by the Baron- ess; namely, the last meeting between the Baron of Ildegardo and the Baron of Altendorf, the true details concern- ing the assassination of Father Heracles, and the adventure with Korali at mid- night on the bank of the river. Oh! then how deeply did I sympathise with my unfortunate master who was the victim of such cruel circumstances ;— how fearfully lucid became a thousand ‘on which he had already seized. ‘The incidents to me so inexplicable before ! But ere I took leave of him, the Baron addressed me in these terms:—‘*t My good and faithful Bernard, we must al- low the present untoward events to take their own course. Were we to proclaim all the tremendous truths of my unhappy history and denounce the Baron of Altendorf as the murderer of Heracles, the dread Tribunal of the Bronze Statue would assuredly demand Y [ + | and obtain me as a victim. Alas! I must endure the infamy of a hideous ac- cusation until the time comes when heaven will cease to. frown upon me and L once more become strong enough ‘to face mine enemies. ‘Then, Bernard —then will I proclaim all my wrongs— ‘divulge the whole truth—and com- mence a warto the death against the Baron of Altendorf and Baron Manfre- ‘do! Return thou, therefore, to my wife ; convey to her and Gloria my blessing ;—and let Baron Georgey use his influence at the Court to procure au ‘order for my liberation, Sucha doc- ‘ument bearing the King’s sign-manual, ‘Lord Manfredo will not dare disobey,” |. *] promised to fulfil all these, instruc- ‘tions, and having taken leave of my /master, returned to Georgey Castle,— | There I related all that had passed ; and ‘| both the Lady Emilia and her father were rejoiced to find that the Baron of | Ildegardo was really innocent of the old 'priest’s death. I should here observe that Manfredo was too powerful to ren- der it prudent for Baron Georgey to en- gage in warfare with him on Lord ll degardo’s account—especially as the raging peasantry on the estates of the latter had sent to claim the protection and acknowledge the feudal seigniory of Manfredo. Accordingly, this noble- man septa party of his own retainers-to occupy Ildegardo Castle; and as, Kora- li with the valorous archers. still at- tempted resistance, he was taken and put to death. + Baron Georgey lost no time in re- pairing in person to Prague, where he threw himself at the feet of the, King and gave such aversion of the whole affair that his Majesty ordered the Coun- cil of State to examine into it without delay. But Manfredo’s agents were alreudy at work to give to the transac- tion a complexion suitable to the inter- bums of their master, whose object was to procure the condemnation of Ildegar- do either to death or exile so that he ‘might enjoy possession of the estates investigation lasted nearly twelve months; and the result was favorable to the side represented by Baron Geor- gey, who accordingly returned home, after his long absence, with an order addressed to Baron Manfredo, com- manding the immediate liberation of Lord Ildegardo. This mandate was obeyed; and my master was thus. re- stored to his wife and daughter. ‘‘But Baron Manfredo refused to comicbooks.com P ree Ba . LEO Oe se? €eeewene 6 * Que