The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

a? ™~ - Ses ~—. eo va ‘ -_ ll x pot — > Saad pd ™ THE BBONZE STATUE. 49 -* & Sy mek Pest + » an Flizabetha has already been apprised of the discourse which has taken plice be- erably near the mark,’ rejoined the ecclesi- astic: ‘ but you have not quite reached the tween your Excellency and mej; and she} centre of my meaning. Iu plain terms,’ a has consented to favor your Excellency | he added, assuming the firm and decisive Ah with an atidience this very forenoon. Iam | tone of a man who suddenly throws off all ra now ready to escort you into the presence | restraint— these are times when the utmost of her Royal Highness.’ caution, prudence, and circuinspection are ‘| presume from your observation that | necessary. We should not only b. careful the abode of the Princess is not at any very | whom we trust, but likewise obtain every great distance?’ observed the Knight, as he | possible guarantee that our confidence will carefully deposited his half-finished de-| not beabused. Now, your Excellency will spatches in a cupboard, the key of which | admit that | am taking a svep of no mean he secured about lis person. lmportance when I propose to conduct you ‘Foilow me,’ eaid the Carthusian, with- | to the asylum—the secret asylum,’ he ad- out giving a direct answer to the question|ded emphatically, ‘to which misfortune implied by De Colmar’s remark, has driven this unfortunate Princess.’ ‘They quit ed the Golden Falcon together ; ‘Unbosom yourself freely to me, holy and the priest led the way to the southern | father,’ said Sir Ernest de Colmar: ‘for I gate of the city. It was by thissame post-/| perceive that you require at my hands some ern that Sir Ernest had entered Prague on| security which you deem more binding than the preceding evening—for it communica-| my mere word. Bz: itso: | ama stranger ted with the high road along which his jour-|to your reverence—and the troubles of ney had lain. But instead of pursuing that | your country may have naturally made you wide and open route, the priest turned ab | suspicious. What guarantee can [ afford ruptly off to the left, and skirted the out-| you that the place of her Royal Fighness’s works of the fortification for the distance | abode, shall, under any circumstances, be of nearly a mile. De Colmar followed close! retained inviolubly secret by me?’ behind; and not a syllable was exchanged | The guarantee which | dew and is, that until they entered a thick grove, through | you consent to be blindfolded while repair- which a narrow pathway ran_ tortuously | ing hence to the abode of the Princess, and amidst the trees. while returning hither when the interview ‘Pause we here fora few minutes, Sir) shall have taken place ;—and, as Father Knight.’ said the ecclesiastic, stopping short | Cyprian uttered these words, he fixed his the moment they set foot on that beaten /|eyes intently upon De Colmar’s counten- path. ‘It is necessary that we come to/|ance, as if to read the manner ie which the some little understanding on a_ point| strange proposal would be received. which I did not choose to discuss at the] ‘By heaven!’ ejaculated the Knight, his hostel, where eaves-droppers might have | cheeks coloring and his eyes flashing fire : — * Bi, ~, — “ ‘ _ ae = ~ hoe 4 oe < * x oe mm * . ee a - - * , — > oo a2 Es A a | “ZS- -* 7 il all i indulged their inpertinent curiosity.’ ‘under any other circumstances, such a de- ‘Speak frankly and without reserve,’ ex-| mand would be looked upon as a fragrant claimed S’r Ernest de Colmar. insult ‘Your Excellency will pardon me, re-| ‘Then let us terminate our interview at sumed Father Cyprian, with a slight de-| once,’ said the priest, coldly. gree of embarassment in his tone, ‘if I re-| ‘Not so! replied Sir Ernest de Colmar, mind you of certain words which I uttered} in a milder tone. ‘I accept your proposal when we met at the chapel in. the cross- | —I accede to your demand—because [ am roads. I then said that without me your| bound to make any personal sacrifice for illustrious master could do nothing in Bo-| the sake of forwarding the interests of my bemia—no, nor even discover the retreat of | ducal fna-ter—and also because I am wil- the Princess Elizabetha—nor obtain the/|ling to prove by my deeds the sincerity of slightest clue to the spot where her vast|those which ere now conveyed an assur- furtune is deposited.’ ance of secrecy. But since your Reverence ‘| remember your observations well,’ said | has decided upon treating the whole affair the Knight. 8) pointedly and essentinlly as a matter of ‘And do they suggest to your Excellen- | business, in which due guarantee shall be cy’s mind no conditions which I am bound | taken, while mere verbal pledges are re- to stipulate and impose ?” garded as naught—viewing the subject of ‘Your Reverence doubtless requires a} negotiation in such a light, I say, methinks selemn promise from my Jips, said De Col-| there remains @ certain stipulation on my mar, ‘that under no circumstances will I | side , reveal, without your permission, the place| ‘Name it? ejacniated the priest, impa- of her Royal Highness’s retreat. This as-jtiently. gurance [ unhesitatingly give.’ ‘{ mean,’ cried the Knight,’ that when the ‘Your Excellency has shot the arrow tol- i interview shall have taken piace between comicbooks.com