The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

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The wardrobe displayed to their glistening Clamonds seem d to fling forth adipiring eyes such a varicty of tasteful, jets of vivid light from the brow of beauty, elegant, and rich dresses that they were at| The crimson draperies fringed with mas- n loss to make a selection. Finding. how-|sive bullion—the vases of polished gold— ever, that the minutes were slipping rapidity |the fruit dishes of crystal « laborately away and that they had none to spare, they | cu'—the costly ornaments of the sumptu- hastened-to fix their choice; and this im-j}ous ferniture—and the numerous mirrors portant step being taken, they addressed that multiplied into countless throngs the themselves in good earnest to their toilette yrou ps of lovely women and handsome Having first bathed ia tepid founts of | gallants,—all combined to produce an water peifumed with essence of roses, they jeffect at once dazzling to the eye and In- assumed the rich and elegant apparel which | toxicating to the sense. they had chosen; and assuredly if it had The superb apartment, so gorgeous in all been the old woman 8 aim to select the two | jts feasures, was of surprising magn: tude-—— handsomest and most graceful y«uths in|stretching so far back that when viewed Prague to be introduced as gucsts to the | from the threshold of the open portals it mansion on the present occasion, she could ;seemed |ike a vast theatre filled wrha not huve more successfully performed her | bri liaut asssmblage. task. But though in that saloon of roseate The half-hour having expired, the puges | effulyence and of warm and perfumed at- re-appeared. l.ionel and Konrad followed | mosphere, there appeared as many ele- them away from the toilette-chamber— | gnutly dressed and handsome gentlemen as across a magnificent landing at the head of|there were ladies of ravishing beauty,— the marble staircase—and thence to an an- | it was nevertheless this blaze of female Jove- te-room at the extremity of which two tall | linessthatat first absorbed the interest, the porters, in superb liveries, were stationed | attention, and the feelings of the two youth- motionless as statues against a pair of lofty | ful paves. Every style of beauty had its folding-doors which shone like burnished | representative at this congress of unrival- gold. ‘led charms: every gradation and shade Almost at the very instant that Lionel of feminine attractions might here be ob- and Konrad were ushered into this ante-|servead and contemplated with delight ;— room, a superb water-clock standing in a/jevery taste was certain to experience niche prociaimed the hour of midnight:|promrt and complete satisfaction in this then, the noment that it had ceased striking, | ussemblaye of the most faultless specimens a silver bell suspended in an illuminated | of womankind. lantern rising above an opening in the ceil- | ‘Forms blending the perfection of grace ing, began to tinkle melodiously ; the rich- | and elegance, as wei] as those which were ly dressed porters roiled back the gilded | softly rounded into Juxuriant pre porlons, folding-doors, and the interior of an immense | —fizuies sylph-like and delicate, as well saloon revealed tothe dazzled and bewild-|as those that were striking and brilliant ;— ereil youths such a blaze of female Joveli-|eyes b.ack and melting like those of the ness as never burst on mortal eyes before. | gazelle, as wel] as orbs dark and brilliant as the thunder-cloud pouring forth its light- sapaten nings,—or, again, deep blue eyes in which heaven itself appeared to dwell, or in whose CHAPTER XIX. looks vivacity and spirit sparkled. or where cheerfulness danced rapturously ;—hair that rolled in a precious fluod of glowing auburn over necks and shoulders of daz- Yrs—it was indeed a terrestrial para- | zling whiteness, or that fell in sable giossi- dise which thus broke upon the view of | ness upon askin mech with the olive tint Lionel and Konrad when the shining por-|and the vermeil bloom of the brnnette,—or tals were thrown back at the signal given |tress«s of tlaxen paleness setting of the by the silver bell that tinkled so pugetually |comp.exion which seemed to be of milk at midnight. And on the threshold they |and roses; countenances impressed with a stood—those two young pages—transfixed | beauty that was akin to sublimity. as well with ecstatic wonderment, and spell-bound {as those of cherub loveliness —faces that with an indescribable rapture which would | were palé witha languor full of ravishing not permit even the eye to wink lest the|sweetness and softness, as wel] as those scene should flit away in a moinent. which were animated with an expression of All was bright, brilliant, and glowing. |seductive wantonness,— features which Innumeruble lamps, shaded with globes | shone with love and tenderness. as well as of purple glass, poureda flood of rose- | those which were stamped with intellec- ee eee - THE FESTIVAL. comicbooks.com