The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 47 | fair to conclude that he was Zitzka’s guest. | been accidental so far as he was concerned : But how he came to be in the church on| but on the other hand, they are equally cal- that occasion, and why he should have hi@ | culated to fill my mind with misgivings, den himself amidst the monuments, I can-} ‘ Could the young woman whiom he res- not divine. However, let me briefly glance | cued have told him who you are ?’ demand- at the incidents which then occurred.— | ed the Baron. Everything had been planned,’ continued| ‘No: for even if she were aware that the Carthusian, sinking his voice to a low] it was [ who wascarrying her away in the and mysterious whisper,—‘ and every ar- | first instance, she does not know me by the rangement had been made in order to yield | name of Father Cyprian,” was the response. up a victim to the Virgin’s Kiss,’ | ‘The Baron was about to make some ob- ‘And that victim—who was he ?” asked | servation upon the singularity of the cir- the Baron, leaning forward, and also speak- | cumstance that the Austrian representative ing in a subdued tone and with an air of | should have visited the Taborite encamp- deep and absorbing interest. ment at all; but his lordship was interrupt- ‘*I'was a woman—or rather a girl—for | ed by the entrance of the landlord. she is not twenty,’ replied the priest. ‘But; * What news, Messer Templin 2’ demand- your lordship must not seek to know who or | ed the Baron impatiently. what she is,’ he hastily resumed, after a} + jg Excellency Sir Ernest de Colmar, few moments’ pause. ‘Suffice it tosay that envoy from the Sovereign Duke of Ausrtia, it suited -my purposes that she should re- | hag arrived this evening at the Golden Fal- ceive the Virgins Kiss, he added, in an|¢on? answered the landlord ; ‘and he has ominous tone and with a sombre counte-| desired me to deliver to your lordship this nance: ‘but at the very instant that | was packet of which his Excellency was the bearing her away through the intense dark- | }oarer? ness into which the church had been sud- g . o soon as he had thus acquitted himself denly plunged, some one encountered me eR tinal ' ane of his mission, Templin retired ;—and the violently and tore the intended victim from my Baron hastened to break open the packet, arme, My dagger was drawn in a moment; the address on which he had already reco but, wielded as it was in the midst of the] ~ Oe he 4 8 nised to be in the handwriting of his son. deep darkness, the blow failed—and the Having hurriedly glanced over the con- weapon broke. Almost at the same instant : I was struck down senseless by the hand tents of the laconic note which the parcel contained, the Baron passed it without a of my opponent. When I came to myself r again, I was lying stretched upon the steps comment to the Carthusian, who read the , following lines :— of the altar, in the midst of a profound si- lence and a deep darkness. Fearful of being discovered and captured by the Ta- borites, | rose and dragged myself away. Rejoining those who had been acting in concert with me,I learnt from their lips enough to convince me that the individual who rescued the intended victim, and who struck me down in the darkness, was Sir Sur Ernest de Colmar. Yes—he was seen issuing from the church with the girl in his arms; and there is not a shadow of a doubt that his hand dealt the blow which has left its ignominious mark upon my brow,’ ‘ But Sir Ernest de Colmar knows not that it was you, holy father, whose antagonist he thus became in the darkness?’ said the Baron of Altendorf, inquiringly. ‘No—that is scarcely possible,’ answer- ed the priest. ‘But his presence within the precincts of Zitzka’s encampment was at least suspicious: his appearance in the church was an incident more remarkable still;—and the promptitude, energy, and determination with which he rescued the intended victim complete the aggregate of | respect; and we shall soon be able to ascer- unaccountable circumstances. It is true/|tain whether the meaning of this note be that the whole series of evenis might have | as it at present seems.’ ‘BELOVED AND RESPECTED SIRE, ‘The bearer of this, Sir Ernest de Colmar, did honor your Castle with his pre- sence on his way to Prague. I saw enough of him to be well assured that he is a most worthy Knight and amiable gentleman, and most certainly calculated to grace the council at Prague, if such, as I suspect, be his destination. For as pleasant tidings fly fast, so have I reason to know that Sir Ernest de Colmar is all I now represent him ; and in such light, my respected sire, will it be good to receive him. Your dutiful son, *‘RODOLPH.’ ‘This note speaks well of the Austrian,’ said the priest, handing back the letter to the Baron ; ‘and your lordship’s son writes with an emphasis and an authority ‘Stay ? eried the Baron. ‘Think you that in troublous times such as these, no precautions are adopted with regard to cor- respondence? <A certain understanding exists between Rodo!ph and myself in that - - . a a - comicbooks.com