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The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

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CHAPTER XXXIY.<br />

THE SENTRY.<br />

Malvicino remained long in his cell on his<br />

knees before <strong>the</strong> image <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Virgin, which<br />

was in one corner opposite to <strong>the</strong> tradi-<br />

tional skull <strong>an</strong>d cross-bones, those monitors<br />

to <strong>the</strong> ten<strong>an</strong>t <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> uncertainty <strong>of</strong> life<br />

<strong>an</strong>d <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> certainty <strong>of</strong> death. He gazed<br />

fixedly at <strong>the</strong> image, crossing him-<br />

self from time to time, <strong>an</strong>d kissing <strong>the</strong><br />

floor.<br />

"I have it by our present Pope Alex-<br />

<strong>an</strong>der VII.," cried he, with a sudden excla-<br />

mation, which seemed a str<strong>an</strong>ge interruption<br />

to his pious meditation in honour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vir-<br />

gin. " Blessed be <strong>the</strong> Holy Mo<strong>the</strong>r ; it must

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