Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

116 HER ROYAL LOVER. wood and grass grew luxuriantly. Over this small ditch, three draw bridges were thrown to give access to this species of fortress, whose black mass recalled the old strong chateaux of the Middle Ages. As the carriage of the ambassador and ambassa- dress was passing over one of these arched bridges in order to enter into the avenue of the chateau, Najeska Ivanowna, without being able to account for it, experienced a slight shiver which startled her; at the same time, and also involuntarily, the visage of the prince became suddenly pale. As we have previously said, all the court were assembled in one of the drawing-rooms of the ground floor. The young princesses and Walpurga de Heiligenthal had surrendered themselves entirely to the pleasures of this fete. The young Count Wal- demar was also there. He was somewhat pale. He was asked if he was not ill. “T have had, during two days, an atrocious head- ache,” said he, and his eyes, while thus speaking, rested boldly on Najeska Ivanowna. At the arrival of the princess, the young man had already en- deavored to approach her; but the very evident attentions of the king rendered his game impossible. Under this look she felt herself grow pale and lose countenance. Very fortunately, the little Princess Helene of Thessaly, running to her, put an end to her embarrassment. “We have had horses put to the great char-a- lane,” said the little girl, “and all of us children are going in it together. You, Madame l’ Ambassadrice, as an official personage,” and her little royal high- ness smiled, “will be obliged to go very properly and fatigue yourself in a carriage.” Gomichbooks com