Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 129 “Certainly not. No, I simply state that incident, and I make no allusion to the anecdotes whispered about Mineleko, since your marriage. Thus, during the time that we are walking here, without thinking of forfeiting honor,” continued the king, “who knows if the terrible specter of this new Othello will not spring up from some of these trees, and, taking us unawares, will not turn upon us the muzzle of his revolver, and pull the trigger without even thinking to listen to us.” “Ah, sire! they have exaggerated the truth to you. My husband is jealous, it is true, but not to that extent. And in order for your majesty to speak thus, they must have told many tales about us before our arrival.” “They always talk much about an ambassador whom they expect, as of his wife, whom they de- sire,” said the sovereign, very gallantly, avoiding thus to respond to the direct question that the young woman asked him. | “ And of lesser personages, also; is it not so? But will you permit me to be very frank with your majesty?” said she, suddenly, summoning up all her courage. “If itis true that I am the wife of a man, such as you portray my husband; if it is true that you have, as you make me forbode too well, con- ceived some affection for me—then, on account of this mistrustful and unhappy character, in con- sideration of your ‘sympathy’—do not be, thus osten- sibly, so amiable for me.” At these words, at this prayer pronounced in a tone which was not to be mistaken, the king grew pale. “That means, then, that you think that I begin to pay you a little too much attention?” Eomicbooks.com