The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

a +o - > =, - - . e+ > a a - Be. + ~~ oes st ers ey ie ‘ . ~e Ne - *- . . < Se ae - . , | f pS Sse ean ag een a te te et eee, © ove ee pt See MO -—" whl ~ ~~ « = - - A x Pn a eee o 7 >. on ~~ 7 - ~~ > we ~ wee Me ~ sae ita na a rs a » a 2 a ~ ~—_ -— eS a *.* (2 “eere tt ¥ —_ © * - ~ - ‘the be wt ~ - ey we 4 a ~ a. es ee ee — “2s FOr aes 4 =f ? ay yd ee ~ *» alt a ee r * “ - A, J. e. We . &> - 3-8 Cs 326 THE BRONZE STATUE. This indeed was old Bernard, as the reader has doubtless perceived. Entering a wood, the Carthusian and his bravos dismounted from their horses, and thence they gained the ruins on foot, penetrating into the midst of the scene of dilapidation at a different point from that where the knight's grooms and the lady’s handmaidens were wait- ments in those suites of rooms which for so many years had been abandoned to utter neglect and the ravages of de- cay. : But throughout the left wing and all the buildings connected therewith, bus- tle and activity prevailed. ‘l‘he ban- quetting-hall was adorned with banners —the side-boards were covered with dwelling. + oo ~_ -* ge Oe es enn gee “>? a ¥ eytrew ty « . = s é a+ _—_ ing at the time. ‘lhe result of the at- | plate. Every bed-chamber was put tack which was soon after made upon | jnto requisition ; and immense supplies De Colmar and Satanais, is already | of provisions were ordered in from the known to our readers; butthe exrlana- | nearest farms on the Altendorf domain. tions just chronicled were requisite to | Messengers were hkewise despatched fill up a slight gap previously existing | to every village within the boundary of in our narrative. that vast estate, to summon a sufficient Baffled, defeated, and with a heart 'number of vassals to form a strong gar- full of rage and bitterness, the Carthu- | rison at the castle ; and masons were sian fled into the wood where the} already at work in repairing the walls horses had been left, and where he| and increasing the defences of the was almost immediately joined by the stronghold. On one side Lord: Ro- only one of his followers who had sur- dolph was issuing the various orders vived the conflict. Mounting their| necessary for the carrying out of these steeds, and abandoning the others to the | arrangements ; and, on the other hand, wolves of the forest, the priest and his | »9jq Hubert was bustling 1n every direc- myrmidon fled with all possible speed | tion to see that the domestic prepara- in the direction of Altendorf Castle ;/tjons were proceeding on a scale of nor did they consider themselves safe | magnificence suitable to the wealth, from pursuit until they arrived within| rank, and hospitality ef the powerful sight of the colossal towers and frown-| Baron of Altendorf. ing walls of that vast fortalice. It was late in the evening when the fugitive priest and his follower entered the castle. ‘The Count of Rosenberg had arrived there about a couple of hours previously ; and, having made to Lord Rodolph the communication with which he was entrusted, the nobleman had taken his departure for his own Brief was the conversation which took place between Lord Rodolph and the Carthusian priest that night. The former was fully occupied in the man- ner already mentioned ; and the latter, wearied almost to death by the im- mense distance he had ridden and the fatigues he had endured that day, was glad to retire to his couch so soon as he had exchanged afew words with the a Thus, when Father Cyprian reached ; — ‘ f the feudal stronghold of Altendorf, he ype Nevienaan. was rejoiced to find that Rodolph had In the afternoon of the following day already begun the necessary prepara- the expected procession defiled across tions to receive the Princess Eliza-|the draw-bridge into Altendorf Castle. betha, and to welcome his father’s re- Lord Rodolph welcomed the princess turn. All these arrangements were, with the profoundest respect, and a however, confined to the left wing and guard of honor was drawn up to Z®= adjacent buildings of the vast strong- | eve her. Then, at the moment she hold; and the right wing was still aban- alighted from her horse, the martial doned to its desolation, its gloom, and | ™usic commenced a national air, and its rapidly advancing decay. Not that|to the flag-staff on the central tower Lord Rodolph was influenced by any | ose the royal standard of Bohemia. private motive in thus refraining from| ‘This was the signal for the uplifting all attempts to render so large a por-j|of a myriad of voices upon the battle- tion of the establishment available for| ments; and from roof end tower, tur- the use of the distinguished guests who |ret and wall, outworks and Donjon- were about to take up their abode in| Keep, rose the shouts of acclaim sent Altendorf Castle; but as the arrival of | forth by the assembled vassals of Alten- these guests was expected in a few/| dorf. hours—at all events some time in the; Then the baron, who had dismounted course of the day—there was not lei-| from his horse, sank on one knee in the sure to make any effectual improve-| presence of Elizabetha, and exclaimed, _ (ag _ 4 . : ee. Fwy, ——————— eee - Altes, comicbooks.com