The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

66 ful reverie as that voice, so melodious in | its golden richness, fell upon his ear, touch- | ing a chord that vibrated to his very heart. | ‘When your Excellency was about to) THE BRONZE STATUE. ‘l had not indeed reflected that friend- ship is a dangerous sentiment, answered Ve Coimar, suddenly struck by the idea which the lady's remark could not fail to engender. ‘ Listen to me, Satanais—listen quit the Taborite encampment ten or twelve | : : days ago,’ resumed Satanais, hastily, ‘ you | to me with attention—while I speak frank- asked me for my friendship—and I granted | ly and candidly to you. | it. Has your Excellency forgotten that in-| ‘1 am Jistening” said the Daughter of cident 2’ she demanded, fixing her glorious | Satan, in a low and tremulous tone which eyes upon him with an air of mingled seru- | evinced internal agitation. ‘* Come,’ she ——e a ae ga me . r) \ - ; ie 4 \ . H ‘ ‘ - @ : / 1 ger 7 a : : 2 | TT . ‘ Oe , ' .* » 7 4 bes A, | > ‘ . j oil ‘ ' ' ' ‘ . ef! mi 7 . 4} - ep ~~ - oo r oo — - a = aa ke o. — ~ - p “ a - pa ~ an *) -~—s Se ae “ - a ae & a a > ?r ~ {qhe-rwe —<— o * ” * nie = = - c og .— “> i ~ = 7 . x Sen —_" = - 4 . } - > P ~ — ae ae ae ~ . é nd “ oo % te- A - a4 —_. ~ 4 ~ - a ~~ _— ° se ~— — —- a - — a = = on — oo a x > a - A —s ‘ . ’ - 4 ’ - : a rs * — a = ~ = : > be - ~ ~~ - “a = —s + - * ~~ = = — _ ~~ - “a - = om = . . ait : on. _— Py en —_ ~ — - - a bad - . 4 > - --? i eed : tiny, hope, and apprehension. ‘Forgotten it!’ ejaculated Sir Ernest de Colmar, taking her hand and retaining it In both his own: ‘such an act were at any time and under any circumstances un wor- thy of a knight and a gentleman,’ he added ina fervent tone: * but towards you, charm- | ing lady, it were a crime—a foul crime—e deed of infamy! For the greater the merits of a woman, the more binding should be the influence and the more imperious the claims which she has upon true chivalry.’ Thus speaking, the Knight raised to his lips the soft warm hand of Satanais, who. abandoned it to him for a few moments and then gently withdrew it. my friendship?’ she said: ‘andl am hence- forth to look upon you also asa friend ?’ * Heaven forbid that it should be other- wise :’ exclaimed De Colmar. fore these questions, Satanais ”” ‘Because it were unbecoming in me to remain with your Excellency another min- | ute in this sec!uded place and at such an/| hour, unless it were under the sacred guard- ianship of that chivalrous friendship which | a knight may entertain for a lady,—a friend ship, added Satanais in a lower tone, * which she is permitted to reciprocate.’ ‘Charming girl—as discreet and prudent as you are lovely!’ exclaimed De Colmar: ‘the day may come when [ shall indeed be enabled to testify my friendship towards | with a spectral whiteness inthe pure lustre of the moon. with a band which, though well-meaning, | you. For you are by some means leagued conscientious, and exemplary, may never- theless experience vicissitude—and then,’ ' Satanais, exclaimed hastily, ‘let us ascend to the terrace of yen deserted palace and walk slowly to and fro while you enter upon the | explanations which you are evidently about ‘to give me. De Colmar took her hand—and it trem- bled in his own. Vainly, vainly did he en- | deavor to appear as if he observed not that indication of emotion: vainly did he strug- gle against the sudden inclination which urged him to bestow on that hand a reassu- ring pressure. ‘T’he feeling was irresista- b'e—the impulse was stronger than bimself; the spell of a transcendent witchery wes upon him, the silent but powerful ineanta- ‘ton of the Dauchter of Satan’s glorious ‘Your Excellency, therefore, still demands eyes enthralled his entire being. The mere contact of that soft warm hand was thril- ling, intoxicating, ecstatic; and, as it still trembled in his own, he pressed it! ‘ But where- | Yes—he pressed it ; and the pressure-was returned gently, but unmistakably ; and at the same moment Satanuis threw upon him a look so full of feeling, so replete with the most melting tenderness, though conveyed by the lustrous beams of eves whose ordi- hary rays were lightnings—that a glow of |in-flable bliss was diffused throughout his entire frame, and'his heart appeared plung- ed into an atmosphere of beatific raptures, They ‘gained the terrace—and hand in hand they walked slowly along that marble platform adorned with statues which shone ‘ Ps _ . . . . You w ere telling me, Sir Knight, said that when you besought me to accord you my friendship, you remembered added the Knight proudly, ‘humb'e though | I appear, it may yet fall within my means | to afford efficient succor to yourself, beau- teous lady | low, like music dying off at a distance “My gratitude—my sincerest gratitude is| ‘The observation which vou have re ide. your due, Sir Knight,’ said Satanais, her | ed, answered De Colmar, * did inde d fal dark eyes speaking her thanks at the same! from my lips: and J] must frankly is fe time, but far more eloquently than even her one | ELD 5 3 not that it was a4 dangerous sentiment? | And she uttered the concluding words of | the sentence, her voice grew tremulons and —<* —- mee + —— « j ’ - | that in one sense it m; words, ‘And yet another question have | to ask you,’ she continued, her tone growing suddenly serious.‘ Have you well reflected on the subject whereof we have been speak- ing >—have you well weighed all the consi- | courteous iierpretation. ‘your feelings - No, , | perish before your eyes in the b! 7 derations which should suggest themselves beat iy notadmit of a very Butt take hea- Satanais, that I did not mean to offend you—much less to wound no—Ii would sooner ven to witness, suicide than give you pain. Furl was with regard to the institution of a compact | about to explain to you that d Ss i a} + at deazzi of friendship between you and me ?” ’ azzled b | your transcenucnt beauty—overpowered by ~ comicbooks.com