The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 344: what you’re looking at

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

342 THE BRONZE STATUE. are devoted to me. Acting in pursu-| vainly did he examine the corsage of ance of the instructions which I shall| the rich velvet robe—the document was give them, they will affect to sympa-/| not there! | thise with her majesty; and they will, ‘I cannot find your paper,’ he said, propose to aid her in escaping to the | turning towards the baroness, and view- Court of Austria, whither I am well|ing her with mingled suspicion and aware that in her heart she longs to| alarm, : flee. By their connivance and sucecor| ‘ Not find it!’ she ejaculated, becom- she will quit the castle: and those men | ing deadly pale ; and springing from the whom the handmaidens will pretend to | couch, she proceeded to search for the have gained over to her secret interests, | document with trembling hands and fe- and whom they will present as the vo-| vered looks. ‘+ Great heaven! it is lost lunteering protectors and companions|—it is lost—and I am undone!’ she of her flight, will conduct her back to| cried at the expiration of a few mo- Prague. ‘There, she will be handed| ments; and clasping her hands franti- over to the custody of John Zitzka.’ _cally, she sank down upon her knees ‘Thus far your scheme is well plan-| beneath the weight of an appalling con- ned,’ observed the nobleman. ‘ And | sternation. now in respect to the treasure ?’ | The marquis was also petrified by a ‘You are well aware that when it | kindred terror; and they looked at each was originally determined at the White | other with an awe and an excruciating Mansion to convey that treasure in the |alarm mutually felt. |©Motionless,— coffin to this castle,” resumed Lady Ha- | frozen,—chilled as with a presentiment melen, ‘the Baron of Altendorf intimat- | of approaching death, did they thus re- ed that it should be concealed in the | main gazing in speechless horror upon subterranean vaults of his mighty forta- | each other for more than a minute. ( lice.’ At length that paralysis which held ‘ Andthisresolution has been adhered | them as if annihilated, was broken all to,’ remarked the Lord of Schomberg, | on a sudden; and throwing themselves ‘The coffin containing the treasure was /| into each other’s arms, their rending deposited in the vaults immediately af- | anguish escaped in piteous lamentations ter the arrival of the funereal proces-| and tears. | sion, which served as a mask and a dis-| ‘I amandone,I am undone!’ groaned . er, . os ‘ rN ~ a -_- — —" ~~ ™ = . . " . ” _ +9 wot. «cs cet Sd es 5 tk f “ . ~ ¢ - a - * * 4 « . a. a * - - ~ — - s a - ~~ —_ - — _ a - ~ . - o «- < « r~. » ~-y et OO Se UAW *»-* 5 aA + 7 a St a a ores ee oer ee _—— 4 7 _~ 2 = 7 v * . 7 x, ota, Com Oe ote ., a oe — in - * . - ~ ~ e > Ss A 3 >= tes > S * —- > —< ~~ egies ete a lt _— = ae” « —< ~: : we . aay “+ se . - ‘ ee . > i » tee © ‘ * : = - . . te lpn * * —- Prt ‘ a oe . - ?, i » s vy ‘ ~~ : . guise during its progress along the great highway.’ ‘Then the removal of that coffin to Prague becomes a comparatively easy matter,’ said the baroness; ‘for nine- the wretched woman, tearing herself from the embrace of her lover and wringing her hands. *Oh! would to God that I had never conceived the thought of this treachery !’ é Ca U a : . : 7 j ‘ 'e . : er : q 4 ’ * o ry ; ‘ : 7 + : ’ ¢ - ' 2 7 . ‘au : taf : - 4 ‘ , ’ ‘4 ) ‘ ‘ ’ . ‘ vene® bh) r * erty > 4 i > *\* : t ~ / ; 7%. | 4 ’ s 7) : ty + ‘ ‘ ° “ 8 4 - igi @ « a + ‘Go he a l f,@aa - . 7 . ’ pt 7 7 ‘ 7 > 7 ’ ’ 4 Sy * a2 4 7% 7 7 4 af ” s 7? 4 4 ‘ 4 é « + ‘ a ) 7 >< ¢ a? 1 7? ; . 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' + 4 a € @ A a i ' ‘'? i ‘ 7 4 ‘ y i : : ao " , ae) f , r s eat Vy + ' > : r oa T : s ‘And I likewise am undone,’ said the equally miserable marquis, ‘for it is impossible that I can be regarded other- wise than as your accomplice in this projected perfidy.’ ‘No, you at least are innocent !’ cried the baroness, shuddering all over with torturing apprehension on account of herself. ‘Delude me not with vain and futile hope!’ exclaimed the nobleman, ter- , “e -?: Bronze Statue are devoted to me, and they will blindly obey all the instruc- tions which I may give them.’ ‘Yes, you may rely upon them,’ ob. served the marquis. ‘But granting that all this turns out as you anticipate, how know you that John Zitzka will keep his word ?’ ‘Because he is an honorable man,’ responded the baroness, emphatically ; ~ vo —= omer te Ot te a We ee r+ am, - a ra ws + — ee, OP tet a ne » & ow « a-e e on ~~ oF ~4 — - 4 * " -~ r re , ies han a a - ee Pe a -- ~ ~— aa ~ hl ies Coasts - - A . * . 4 7 y eo, “ait i. —» o %, e - . tenths of the sworn servitors of the my b os . ‘4m . - - come * — -™* " . " "ee, ee 7 ee < - in, eo BROS TOY 28S 8 FEA et ew » gr ae : . aa or Se a - - or - « , o -*. ~* - ~ eee eae - ’ > 1. eo = * © _ oe ape’ anew. a. ae ‘and because he has given me a writ- ten guarantee whereunto his sign-manu- al is attached.’ ‘Show me that document,’ exclaimed the marquis, eagerly. ‘ Within the bosom of my dress there is a double plait in the form of a dimi- nutive pocket,’ said the baroness; ‘ and you will find the guarantee securely treasured there.’ The marquis rose from his seat by the couch of his. mistress and advanced to the chair over the back of which she had hastily thrown her apparel. But oA ribly excited. ‘ You say that the gua- rantee contains a stipulation in behalf of acertain nobleman to be hereafter named by yourself? Now, will not this clause point to me? will it not prove fatal to me? And think you that if that paper has found its way into the hands of those who possess the power, —aye, and the inclination to punish,— think you that a watch has not been even already set upon your movements and mine, and that my presence in your chamber at this hour, when you have just arrived wearied and exhausted comicbooks.com -—.