The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 366: what you’re looking at

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

364 THE BRONZE STATUE. the White Mansion, and when’ they;him while old Bernard was giving the halted to rest in a neighboring grove, | explanation just recorded. De Colmar had addressed himself in| ‘And now tell me,’ said De Colmar, that language towards her, while be- after a long pause, ‘ how stand the po- lieving her to be of the male sex. He litical affairs of Bohemia ?’ had even gone so far as to promise the} ‘The topic of conversation gyas instan- distinction of knighthood at the hands} taneously thrown by this query into @ of tha mighty Albert, Duke of Austria. !new channel; and the forest maiden And now again, on this first day of re- | nowventured to revert her eyes towards suscitated conseiousness after a tedious|the invalids couch. Her looks met and dangerous illness, the warrior spoke | those of the knight, and a visible trouble in a similarly lofty strain; and Angela, | came over each. It escaped the notice beginning to feel bewildered at these | of Bernard, but a keener observer would facts, the aggregate importance of| have fancied that the warrior and the which only struck her for the first time, | maiden were both seized with the same knew not what to think, and felt a vague | sentiment, Nevertheless there was a trouble stealing into her mind. difference in the feelings that thus si- ‘We must not weary his excellency | multaneously affected them, although with our conversation, nor excite him |the outward and visible signs were ex- with our presence,’ said Bernard, za actly the same. But with De Colmar a short pause. ‘Come, let us leave | the confusion and embarrassment arose him to repose awhile.’ ‘from the consciousness that he must ‘No, do not quit the room, my dear | have given pain to the gentle Angela by friends, interrupted the knight; ‘at| the demonstration of a lingering interest least not until you have relieved me | on behalf of Gloria Ildegardo; whereas from suspense on one or two subjects| with the forest maiden herself, the wherein I am interested. Tranquilize|source of trouble and shamefacedness my mind by appeasing my curlosity,| was the fact that she had exhibited a and then shall I be enabled to snatch a| jealousy which her dignity as a woman few hours’ repose.’ should have subdued. ‘His excellency speaks well,’ said | But the sense of confusion was spee- ‘ Bernard, addressing the observation to | dily dissipated on either side by the ala- Angela. ‘ Letus endeavor to sooth him | ¢™Y with which old Bernard hastened to answer the question which Sir Er- nest de Colmar had put relative to the affairs of Bohemia. ‘The six weeks during which your excellency’s indisposition has lasted, has been characterised by many and event- ful circumstances,’ said the old man, in a tone solemnly measured to the impor- tance of his narrative. ‘In the first to the utmost of our power.’ ‘And in order to do this,’ remarked De Colmar, ‘ you must reply candidly and soothly to all the questions which I am about to put to you. In the first place, then,’ he continued, his voice suddenly becoming tremulous and his manner embarrassed as he glanced to- wards Angela, ‘ may [ hope that the ar- . gee : aa place the Queen of Bohemia is dead.’ rest of a certain lady was followed up sh : Fae : : , ‘The Queen of Bohemia!’ ejaculat- by no consequences of a still more se- ' wep pee”-~ } : year sy ed De Colmar. * Whom do you mean! rious character to herself? ens. xa te : .| The Princess Elizabetha ! ‘The rumor has been spread abroad, ‘The same,’ replied Bernard.’ ‘She . . ‘ ‘ . , S nts — . . said Be nard, ‘that the Lady Satanais| was conducted to Altendorf Castle just has retired to some remote and pro-| about the same time your excellency’s found seclusion, there co pene the re-| adventures took place amidst these mainder of het days. hat the dark-} yyins; and at that stronghold was she skinned favorite of the ‘Taborites was| saluted as Queen of Bohemia by all the the same identical being as the golden-| most powerful nobles of the country. haired daughter of Ildegardo, does not| But everything was done with an un- seem to have become generally known | heard-of precipitation and a most sus- In a word, the romantic scene which picious haste. Recognised as queen took place in this turret-chamber 81x | one day, she was to Gy married to Lord weeks ago, hasbeen kept deeply secret Rodolph the aext ; by these who witnessed it.’ + Married to Lord Rodolph 7?’ exclaim- Angela had turned away her counte | ed De Colmar, his surprise increasing nance at the moment when the knight| with every fresh detail that met his began to put the question relative to| ears. ' Gloria ; nor did she once glance towards) ‘Such is the fact, as I have heard it mr ———e comicbooks.com