The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

Pe {? oo _ ne 2 eS ee eee - -——ee - - 76 THE BRONZE STATUE. mournful as that allusion to her usual com- panion fel] upon her ears. * Then hasten, | pray thee, and Jose thy melancholy in agreeable conversation with this youth whor | present to thee!’ And thus was the introduction of Lionel effected. The hostess then presented Konrad to the fsir-haired young lady sitting next to the one with the fan; and, having thus done the honors of her mansion, she smiled upon the conples whom she had brought together and turned awav to rejoin her own gallant, who was waiting for her ata little distance. But here we must draw a veil over the scene: for it is not upon the present occa- sion, that the reader can become acquainted with the mysteries of this unknown man. sion and its nameless occupants. The plan of our tale requires that the astound- ing reveluton should be kept for a future chapter. Suffice it now to say that it was six o'clock in the morning when Lionel and Konrad, having resumed their own ap- parel, quitted this abode of luxury and pleusure—and they were conducted back to the cemetery near Prague, blindfolded and on horseback, by the saine old woman and under the same circumstances as be- fore. At the burisl-place they took leave of the crone; and then they hastily retraced their steps on foot to the Golden Falcon, which they reached before their master rose trom his couch. But did the enjoyments of the night bear the morning’s reflections ? Alas! no: the thrilling eflecis of the spiced wine had evaporated, and shame and c: nfusion we e in the fuees of the young pages as they exchanged with each o.her looks which eloquently though silently expressed their regretat having yielded to the honeyed words whereby the old woman originally tempted them to embark in the mysterious adventure. Ani now circumstances taught these youths, hitherto so frank, open-hearted, and unsophisticated, their first lesson in the school of hypocrisy: fur they were com- pelled to assume a demeanor which would aveit any suspicion that Sir Ernest de Col- mar might form either of their having been abroad all night or of something strange and unusual having happened. But for- tunately for them, their master did not ob- serve their pale countenances and _ the air of fatigue and dissipation which their features wore; and thus were they spared the pain and conscious ignominy of having to give utterance to falsehoods. Nevertheless. with all the excellence of principle and sterling appreciation of rectitude whicb characterised them, they would have condescended to duplicity and deception, had they been questioned by their master: for they had taken an vath to that effect—an oath, the words and circumstances of which wrung their soul with harrowing sensations, curdled the blood in their veins, and made their very hair stan? on head, as they recalled it to their recollection! CHAPTER XX. THE COUNCIL OF NOBLES, Ir was about nine oclock in the evening of the 2nd Angust; and the long talked-of Council of Nobles had now met, pursuant to appointment, in one of the gothic rooms of the Old Castle of Prague. Fifteen or sixteen personages of rank aud influence were thus assembled in solemn conclave, to deliberate upon the ffairs of anarchical and distracted Bohe- mie; and the only representative of a fercien power present on this occasion, was Sir Earnest de Colmar. The leading noblemen were the Marquis of Schomberg, the Count of Rosenberg, and the Baren of Altendorf. The two lat- ter are already known to the reader; and it therefore only remains for us to observe that the Marquis of Schomberg was one of the richest men in Bohemia, and was re- cognised as the head of the old aristocra- tic party, whose opinions were also so strongly in favor of the Roman Catholic Church and consequently so inveterate in theiropposition to Zitzka and his Reformers. The Marquis possessed a noble mansion and an im vense estate at a short distance from Pravue: he was a widower and child- less, and though of despotic character, was generally considered to be a man of.the strictest Integrity and even austere in his habits and morals, Ibis nobleman was called upon to pre- side over the meeting; and he opened the business of the evening by requesting of | Sur Ernest de Colmar to produce his testi- mnonluls as representative of the Duke of Austria. The Knight accordingly handed a roll of parchment to the Marquis, who, having hastily run his eyes over the con- tents, observed, ‘The document is drawn up in due form; and the Couneil therefore recognises in his Excellency, the right worshipful Sir Ernest de Colmar, the envoy and plenipotentiary of his Sovereign High- ness, Albert, Duke of Austria,’ ‘Stop!—one moment! ejaculated the Baron of Altendorf, leaping from his seat . ‘ comicbooks.com