The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. Highness. I will therefore at once and frankly demand of you whether it be by your own free will, consent, and good plea- gsuire, that certain negotiations have been Opened on your behalf with the Duke of| Knight was unable todetermine: and while Austria 2’ W hile giving utterance to the concluding portion of this sentence, the Knight olanced towards the priest who was seated at the farther extremity of the spacious apartnent ; end he was struck, alinost startled, by the expression with which the monk's eyes plured from within the depths of his hood, as they were fixed intently upon the coun- tenance of the Princess. ‘hose eyes were, however, withdrawn the moment they met the looks of de Col- mar ; and the Carthusian, hastily averting his head, drew the cowl farther over his features. At this same instant the Knight turned towards Elizabetha, and caught her glance just as it quitted the spot where the inonk was seated. A deep blush spread over her features : and, quick as lightning, did the idea strike Sir Ernest that she was ashamed at having been detected in yield- ing to the influence which the priest exer- cised with regard to her, and which enabled him to warn or prompt her even by his very looks how she was to act and speak, ‘ Princess,’ said the Knight, leaning for- ward and sinking his voice to so low a tone that his words could not possibly reach F'a- ther Cyprian’s ears, ‘1 implore you to an-| swer me without restraint and without re- serve. Is it by your own free will that these negotiations have been opened re- gpecting the bestowal of your hand on Al- bert of Austria ?—are you your own mis- tress within these walls ?—is thisa safe | asylum of your own choosing, or a prison whence you would gladly escape? Tell me—tell me, royal lady,’ added de Colmar, emphatically, ‘in wl.at manner | can serve you: for I fear that you are not even so happy as you might be : ‘*Yes—yes, Sir Knight—I am happy—as happy as [ can ever hope to be in this world, interrupted the Princess: but, as she gave utterance to these words, the large pearly tears trickled slowly down her cheeks. Sir Ernest de Colmar gazed upon her with looks expressive of deep sympathy and boundless compassion: for he felt con- vinced that the unfortunate yonng lady was not altogether a free agent, but that some species of coercion was exercisad over her. Whether this amounted to an actual tyran- ny or was merely the sway of that influence which an intriguing priest was likely to ob- tain over the mind of an orphan gir! left fiiendless at so tender an age,—whether, in fact, Father Cyprian had openly asserted | words to your ear, of Albert of Austria—as the envoy of a | Sovereign Prince who will cheerfully and | mere stranger. Lee os ESS 9 ~*~ = . ‘ te 2 ee ery, r ti Pu Nes his right to control her actions, or was Mis, wont merely to exercise a tacit thcugh nat the less oppressive despotism over her min ‘by craftily working on her fears,—the 5 ade — L 4 . he ad Wy > |he was still gazing upon her with an ex- pression of mourniul interest in his looks, he observed that she cast a rapid, furtive, and shuddering glance towards the monk, ‘Lady,’ he said in a lower and snore earnest tone than before, *you are a great | Princess—and t am but a humble Knight: it is only by sufferance, therefore, that 1 am |permitied the honor of addressing a few But I beseech and pray you to regard me as the representative | gladly espouse the cause of the orphan and | the friendless daughter of Wenzel, In this ‘light must you regard me—and not as a Speak to me, then, without reserve. if you have wrongs to recress— | complaints to make—succor to demand, | your voice will not be raised in vain. Tell 'me that you are a prisoner here—and my sword shall cleave for your Royal Highness a path to immediate freedom; te)! me that any living soul seeks to coerce you—and | will call the cowardly tyrant to an immedi- ate account. But do not tell me that you are happy, royal lady—because your looks proclaim the reverse.’ W ith a deep—an absorbing attertion had ‘the Princess Elizabetha listened to these | words which the Knight uttered in a tone 'of such unfeigned and heartfelt sincerity : and the tears rolled faster down her cheek. Shudderingly did she again glance to- wards the monk; and a glare of even hor- ror flashed in her large blue eyes, as lather | Cyprian rose suddenly—almost impatiently 'from his seat, and advanced towards the | dais. | Daughter,’ he said endeavoring to ren- der his voice ag kind, conciliatory, and re- assuring as possible, ‘ you will do well to give his Excellency speedy answers to any questions which in his wisdom he may think fit to put to your Highness.’ ‘On the contrary,’ exclaimed the Kaight, ‘it were better that the Princess should have more leisure to ponder upon the nego- tiations which you, Father Cyprian, have somewhat prematurely opened in her be- half’ ‘What! has her Royal Highness : And the monk suddenly stopped short in the midst of the sentence that he had be- gun in a tone of excitement and impertous- ness which completely confirmed de Col- |mar’s suspicion relative to the undue and leoercive influence which ke exercised over ithe unfortunate Princess. comicbooks.com