The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 343: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. J4d Baron of Altendorf, who has crowned} ‘ And that nobleman is myself?’ said himself with honors which were legiti- | the marquis, in @ musing tone. mately and deservedly mine—show me| © Yes; and now what think you of ee how [I may humble and baffle that proud | the terms to which the Taborite chief- At peer, and I shall not be tardy in carry-| tain has bound himself?’ asked the ing the means into execution.’ 'Lady Hamelen. ‘ Know, then, ina few words,’ replied «hat they are excellent if he should the baroness, ‘that I have formed | prove the victor in the coming strife,’ certain compact with John Zitzka ~~ returned the marquls, * but that certain’ © A compact with John Zitzka!’ eja- ‘death will be the reward of our treach- culated the marquis, in indescribable ery if the royal cause should eventuate amazement. ‘Is this possible? or has | *™ meee ad b . . . + . . something occurred to deprive you of | The royal cause will be ruined by your senses and plunge you ‘nto the the very proceeding which I am bound world of dreams ?’ to adopt in order to fulfil my share of ‘T have neither lost my senses nor | te compact,’ said the baroness. °* In . ) ‘a word, I have undertaken to deliver - , a. . as , am tf dreaming, said the baroness. | the Princess, or the Queen, as she 1s ‘Tis true that, overpowered by wearl- | Pte 9 ‘now called, and her treasures into the ness, I sought my couch and yielded 0 | hands of John Zitzka.’ the advance of slumber, notwithstand- |, Oh! but this is fearful !’ exclaimed ing that I cog My a ni. pee eee | the marquis, springing from his seat by ment to come hither ti aya the bed-side of his mistress. you must not suppose that on this ac- | IT und te the importance of the | ‘Consider our position if the ‘l’abo- ara esp aged ome ae x ‘yites should prove successful in the civil: step I have taken. ‘war,’ urged the baroness; ‘ and that « And that step ?’ demanded the noble- ' they will succeed, I entertain not the man, eagerly. slightest doubt. Then, what awaits us? ¢+T will hasten to explain myself fully, | Flight from our native land—ruin—ut- proceeded the baroness. — * Many cir-|ter ruin—perhaps poverty in a foreign ‘ cumstances have convinced me that the | clime ; power of John Zitzka is greaterthan| + Yes, yes—I understand it all, and our party had previously conceived, ‘likewise dread it all!’ exclaimed the great though that power was admitted marquis, pacing the room with agitated to be. But the review which took steps. ‘ The alternatives are bewilder- place so recently at Prague served t0| ing convince me that the Taborites enjoy| + But have you no vengeance to grati- the sympathies of the masses, and that | fy 1’ demanded Lady Hamelen. the entire population, with the excep-| + Vengeance! Ah! now you have tion of the aristocracy and their feudal | again touched a chord which vibrates te retainers, Will rise in support of Zitzka.| my very heart’s core '’ said the mar- Under these convictions, I fancied that | quis, stopping short and fixing his eyes it was time to save myself—time also | with a peculiar expression upon his pa- to save you. For this purpose I sought|ramor. ‘Yes, L have indeed a tero- the Captain-Genéral in the Castle of} cious hatred to appease: inasmuch as Prague, I obtained an interview with | the proud Baron of Altendorf has heap- him, our discourse was long and seri-| ed disgrace upon the head of the Mar- ous, and we parted witha mutual un-j| quis of Schomberg. Be it so, then; I : $<, . ae eae | > a - - — ’ 7 vo - - ey * + 7 “te *< p4 = * -- -_ ity e - te i; “si - “ , * <.¢ . . oo a = 3 % * eg ey + +. ,*-9 z. , . ~ ~~ a 4 al - * ~ we ++ poe ® é > al bs . > re ~ - , = . Pe . = o~ ms = * > _ - “— ad) bs 2 a * . on en 7 = * _. ts ‘ oe. ¢ ~a 4 > nd —— foog tbe a wt. é © = Sa - oy ~~ ss i ad oe - ’ ey < T° 19e. “ . rm - - tt wien, Sule Sea? ox . * os “a a 4 > “~ * - ’ > — “. ; =e ” derstanding.’ 'yield—I consent! Yes, I am your ac- : And that understanding ?’ exclaimed | complice in this tremendous treachery the marquis, inquiringly. /_—your companion 1D this black iniqui- ‘First let me explain how it will af-|ty. But, oh: small marvel was it that fect yourself and me,’ said the baroness. | your dreams should have been haunted ‘John Zitzka agrees and gives his gua-| by visions of the Bronze Statue, since rantee that no garrison shall occupy my | your waking thoughts had previously domains, that my possessions shall re-| been intent upon so much perfidy! main untouched and inalievably mine | And now, tell me by what means you own, under any 80 jal or territorial | propose to carry your plans into execu- changes that may be made; that a full! tion?’ said the nobleman, as he reseated pardon shall be granted me for all the | himself by the side of the lady’s couch. past, and that the same benefit shall be ‘Our ‘course is comparatively easy.” extended to a certain nobleman whom I} replied the bareness. ‘ The handmaid- am yet to name.’ ens new 1n attendance upon the queen,. comicbooks.com