The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. CHAPTER XVIII. THE TWO PAGES. 69 the bricht eyes of beauty look brighter still in the blaze of crystal chandeliers? Oh! fie—to think of stretching your indo- In the meantime—while the preceding | lent limbs on the couch of sunber when interview was taking place between Sir Er the voluptuous dance courts the presence of nest de Colmar and the beautiful but mys-| your grace ful forms and the fair hand of terious Satanais—the Knight's two pages, lovely woman 1s ready to hold the wine cup Lionel and Konrad, had sallied forth to- gether to enjoy the lovelinsss of the eve- to your lips? ‘She raves! Let us depart, whispered ning and contemplate the silent features of | Konrad, endeavoring to lead his companion the Bohemian capital inthe pure moonlight. | The youths, having walked complctel y away. + No—not yet,’ returned the latter, in the aroun the ramparts, reached the immedi- | same subdued tone: * forif this be madness, ate vicinity of the southern gate and were | there Is method in it, Konrad—and | am already thinking of returning to the hostel, | much deceivea if some pleasant adventure when they were suddenly encountered by | is not developing itself for our enjoyment,’ an old woman of respectable appearance and whose features wore a prepossessing air of cheerfulness and good humor. ‘Tisa pleasant evening, fair youths,’ she exclaimed, thus familiarly accosting the| youths, after having surveyed them both | with some attention. ‘Yes—the weather is charming, worthy dame,’ responded J.ionel in a courteous tone; ‘and your fine city appears even more lovely by mooonlight than when bathed in the golden Instre of day.’ ‘ Ye are strangers, then, in Prague, hand- some youths ?’ observed the old woman, in- quiringly. ‘ Not altogether, answered Konrod—see- ing that we have already been here seve- ral days.’ ‘And do you purpose to tarry here much longer ” asked the dame, who seemed both inquisitive and garrulous. ‘We are not our own masters,’ replied Lione!: ‘but it is not probable that our residence in Prague will be prolonged many weeks. A!! depends upon the dura- tion of the businesss which is to occupy the nobles who assemble to-morrow.’ ‘ Ah” ejaculated the old woman: ‘then am Ito understand that you are both at- tached to the person of one of those high and mighty chiefs who within the last few days have arrived in Prague ? ‘Your conjecture is accurate, good dame,’ said Lionel. * But we must now return to our quarters. Come, Konrad—it is grow- ing late.’ ‘Late!’ exclaimed the old woman, in a tone of such mingled irony and contempt that the youths, who were already walking away, turned round and contemplated her with astonishment. ‘Late! she repeated in a manner that tended still farther to rivet their attention and excite their curiosity: ‘is it possible that ye serve so harsh and severe a master that he compeis you to seek your chambers at the very hour when music breathes its melting strains in the abode of luxury, and when ‘You imagine that Lam either speaking. in jest, or uttering meaningless things, fair youths, said the old woman, who had not failed to perceive the desire of the one to depart and the other to remain: ‘ but | am nenher prone to unreasonable jocularity nor to waste iny time in folly. [| am going straightway hence to a perfect paradise up- on earth— where brilliantly lighted halls are crowded with the gallant and the handsome, the beautiful and the fascinating — where inusic pours forth its sweetest strains and the softest voices unite in tender airs--- where tables groan beneath the luxuries which all the corners of the world furnish as a ban- quet—and where pleasure wafts the soul xnway from its sense of mortal restraint and bears it to a realm of elysian bliss. Such is the destination whither | am now bound: but must I go alone ?’ ‘By heavens! no, good dame—provided [ mav accompany thee’ exclaimed Lionel, enraptured at the glowing description which the old woman gave of her earthly paradise ; and, without waiting for her re- ply, he turned to his companion, saying, ‘Did L not assure thee Konrad, that this was an adventure which we must not hesi- ture to embrace 2” ‘ Indeed. fair youths,’ hastily observed the dame—‘ ye are right well welcome to ac-- company me, and | can promise that your reception will prove of the most flattering, description.’ I perceive but one difficulty,’ said Kon- rad, now yielding, though somewhat more tard'ly than Lionel, to the temptation which the old woman presented in such dazziing colors to their veiw. ‘And that difficulty I can anticipate,’ re- plied Lionel, speaking aside and in an un- der tone. ‘* You are afraid that our excel- lent and kind-hearted muster will chide us to-morrow tor returning home late to-night Bat on this head there is naught to appre- hend: for ere he went out just now he in- timated to me that he dispensed with our comicbooks.com