Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 133 “Sire,” the princess haughtily replied, “I have been educated to know that, during her life, the love of a woman belongs only to one man alone—him whose name she bears—and if she cannot give her heart to him, she must at least keep it whole and pure, and not surrender it to another. Then, your majesty, do not occupy yourself with me. Misled, by the calumnies distributed about me, you have taken me for another woman than that which I am. I bear you no ill will for it, but if, notwithstanding the principles that I have just expressed to you, it would please you to continue an attention that here- after I should regard as an offense, understand well that alone, without any assistance whatsoever, I would know how to make myself respected, and make you remember, sire, the respect that every man owes to a woman.” While speaking thus, Madame de Mineleko abrupt- ly withdrew her arm from that of the king. Bare-headed, for Najeska Ivanowna, friend of the air, had long since removed her hat, she was so beautiful thus, in her revolt of womanly pride and purity, that the king, as if in ecstasy, could not remove his eyes from her; he was ravished, and more and more subjugated. The sun, as if wishing to confirm the noble words issued from those rosy lips, was playing graciously in the great knot of her chestnut hair, and making a brilliant halo around this brow, completely covered with the crimson of indignation. Oh! if Mineleko had seen her thus! if it had been permitted him to perceive this woman, standing proudly before the king, who was now ashamed of the desires which a moment ago had had possession of his mind, he would have comprehended, at last, eEomichbooks:com