The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

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Her countenance | cups filled with spiced were likewise gold wine—silver goblets wore an expression of a mingled pensive- | containing the pure vintage of France— the scene caused a fender and melting | bet in which lumps of - ness and soft Jangour, as if the Juxury of, and exquisitely-cut crystal glasses of sher- ice were, fl ating. previously existing thoughts of a melan- | any refreshment, the Chily character. In her hand she carried | versed this little roon superb hostess tra- 1, and pushing open a large fan made of the va riegated piumage | the door on the Opposite side, stil] beckoned of foreign birds; and she was seated on an ithem to follow her. ottoman next to a fair-haired young lady ;|scarcely had they set with whom she was conversing, | threshold of a small Such were the principal features of the | rude iron lamp, suspe already described, upon the view of Lionel] | burst from the lips of and Konrad, and which they had leisure to| coiled with wild! g| contemplate fora few minutes ere their| tures convulsed with i ‘nded to the ceiling, brilliant scene that broke, in the manner | was burning dimly, when a cry of alarm They obey ed: but a their feet upon the chamber in whicha each, and they re- aring eyes and fea- neffable horror. fo el) eee, ih presence on the threshold of the gilded! ‘If ye are cowards, how came ve within ‘ . . . . o ~ “ portals was noticed by any of the inmates| the walls of my mansions’ demanded the is of that magnificent saloon. lady, her countenance But now the eyes of the splendid lady | its sweetness and becoming distorted with whom we have described and who appear- | rage—while those eyes that had erst looked ed to be the hostess of the mansion, sud- | all the wantonness of denly feilupon the two pages ; and, having | shot forth lightnings, directed her companion’s attention towards |‘ No, lady—we are them, she beckoned them with a smiling | Lionel, coloring with countenance to approach. -|we choose to war on ’ Then Lionel and Konrad crossed the | ing threshold of that terrestrial paradise; and| ‘And not with the dead! ejaculated with a low obeisance did the graceful] | Konrad, emphatically. suddenly losing all love and pleasure, ' y not cowards,’ said “* indignation: * but ly against the liy- youths salute the lady and her noble gal-; And as they thus spoke, the youths sj- jant. |multaneously flung horrified and shudder- ‘You are welcome, fair sirs, she Said, in | ing looks into the interior of that dimly- avoice so full of kindness and cordiality | lighted chamber. that the pages suddenly felt relieved of| ‘Follow me, { command you ! exclaimed nearly all the. embarrassment. which op-| the lady, in so_ imperious a tone that the pressed them: and looking up they beheld | pages were overawed ; but still they hesi- the eyes of many fair creatures around | tated, as if some tremendous peril were to fixed upon themselves. ‘Yes—you are|be dared or some hide welcome to the festive halls of my man-/| countered beyond the o ous object to be en- threshold on which sion,’ continued the lady; ‘but ere you|they thus stood transfixed and paralysed plunge headlong into the pleasures and | with appalling sensations, enjoyments of this elysian scene, there is| The lady cast upo n them a look of a short though impressive and most neces- withering scorn mingled with diabolical] ; sary ceremony to be performed. Follow! menace: nay, more—her features, natu- }? ? me ! rally so grandly handsome, so royally And relinquishing the arm of her com-| beautiful, were distorted with a species of panion, who stepped aside, the lady con-| fiendish defiance, and s he seemed to olower ducted the two youths completely through | upon the youths with eyes of fire. 4 the vast apartment,,so that they were not! ‘Follow me, 1 command you!’ she said : only enabled to take a nearer and more again. ‘This is the comprehensive view of the gay company | have spoken: beware which it contained, but they likewise be-|me when I adjure y second time that J] how you disobey ou thrice. For, as - came the objects of attention and ; ira- {certainly as vy ere getand; } and admira | nly as you are standing there, shal] tion on the part of more than one enchant- |those things start torth ing creature, | abodes—clasp their arms At the farther extremity of the immense! ‘Oh! this is horr saloon, the lady drew aside a velvet cur- |claimed Konrad c tain behind which she passed, followed by | with both his hands. the two pages, who now found themselves | covered with fruits in crystal dishes, sweet-|‘ We have already. o * } i. m1 ‘ . , ¥ . ‘ ; 2 - meat on porcelain plates, and confection- |—much farther than w ery in golden boxes ornamented with pre- | Venttired ;—and let us irom their funeral ns around you ' ible—horrible? ex- overing his countenance | : nd | ‘ Courage, my dear friend—courage in @ small ante-room Containing a table} Whispered Lionel, hastily but e mphatically, ne too far to retreat © ever ought to have not theretore shrink comicbooks.com