The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. She then turned hastily away—rejoining. her damsels, who were standing close by, and to whom Lionel and Konrad had just said farewell. The Knizht and his pages sprang upon their steeds; and the noble animals bore them rapidly away from the vicinage ot the Taborite encampment. CHAPTER Al. A CONVERSATION. Our readers are already aware that it was in the year 1435, and in the month of July, that our narrative opened; but in order to impart a perfect chronologica the incidents which we are relating, it will | ho be necessary to observe that it was on the 20th of the above-mentioned month when | were exchang Sir Ernest de Colmar and his two pages filed a second . . ] ° ‘ “ > 4" . aborite station in the manner Rhenish, Sir Erne guitted the T just described ;—and it was between seven and eight o’clock in the evening of the 2st that the Knight and his youthful followers entered the city of Prague. Guided by the answers given to certain inquiries which they made, the little party proceeded to the Golden Falcon, which was the sign of the best hostel or inn to be found within the precincts of the Bohemian capital. The establishment consisted of a large | frequented mn. l accuracy to| mas : —=- rambling structure, the several portions of| which exthibited different aspects and various kinds of architecture, it baing evi- dent that as the business of the hoste! had increased, so were additions made to the edifice by the successive proprietors. The front looked upon the principal square or great market-place of Prague, whence diverged the streets leading to the Castle, the Palace, and the Cathedral; and in the rear of the hostel there were spacious gar- dens fitted up, with numerous little wooden pavilions, in which the guests and fre- quenters of the Golden Falcon were wont to carouse on the warm summer evenings. The landiord, whose name was Templin, and whose appearance indicated the jovial disposition so indispensable in a host pro- fessing to draw good liquor, was a middle- aged man, witha rubicund countenance, small twinkling eyes, and a merry smile constantly beaming upon his features. He was assisted in his calling by a buxom wife and a pretty daughier; and the general ur- banity of this family, added to the excel- lent accommodation afferded by the house, had placed the fame of the Golden Falcon upon the highest eminence. In this establishment a suite of roo7s, | ‘observe, ‘ That noble lady, Sir Knight, is : ' ' i LLL LL LLL tired into the garden to discourse upon the 39 overiooking the pieasant gardens, was speedily prepared for the reception of Sir Ernest de Colmar and his two pages; ana when the Knight had partaken of soine re- freshment, he desired the landlord to draw «a flask of hia best Rhenish wine, and sit dewn to share it with him. For our hero was anxious to obtain information, if pos- sible, upon certain points; and he was aware that no one was more likely to afford him such intelligence than the naturaliy carrulous and gossiping landlord of a well- : Accordingly, while the two pages re- beauties and amiable fascinations of Linda and Beatrice, whose images éewelt in the minds of these handsome youths—thetr ter remained alone with the worthy st of the Golden Falcon. After a few common-place observations ed, and when the cups were time with the sparkling st de Colmar said—* The approaches to your, metropolis are mueh more picturesque and agreeable than the scenery in the vicinage of the Austrian capital. While journeying along the last two or three leagues of the road this even- ing, | was much struck by a noble-looking white mansion rising above the verdant srove which embowers the gentle eminence whereon it stands.’ ‘Ah! that is the residence of the good and charitable Baroness Hlamelen,’ ex- claimed the landlord; and without waiting to be questioned farther, she hastened to a pattern for her sex; and ail Bohemia ought to be proud of her. Though only forty years of age, and a very handsome woman, she is looked upon by the poor and unhappy as their general mother. Heaven alone can tell how many breaking hearis she has soothed—how many tearful eyes she has dried—how many bruised and wounded spirits she has healed.’ ‘You are depicting to me a perfect saint! cried Sir Ernest de Colmar, whose renerous nature was profoundly touched by the description of so much goodness and virtue. ‘ Tell me more concerning @ lady whose acquaintance | now long to form, and whose friendship I should be proud to enjoy.’ ‘The Baroness Hamelen,’ resumed the landiord of the Golden Falcon, * was left a widow about fifteen years ago, when she was et the age of twenty-five. Her husband was one of the richest men in Bohemia ; and all his vast fortune and immense estates were bequeathed to her ladysiip. So soon as the period of her mourning ‘hed expired, she laid the foundation of ‘that comicbooks.com