Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 155 the first rumor, and learning nothing but what the town already knew, were making an invasion on the police, where, eager for details, they were noisily declaiming, and giving vent to their dissatisfaction at the incapacity of the police. Neither Madame de Mineleko, nor the groom, would consent to speak; both were unanimous in declaring that they had not been able to distinguish the features of the assailant. Upon her return to the embassy, notwithstanding her great feebleness, Najeska Ivanowna had sent for her groom. Alone with him, she had made him swear, upon the most sacred oaths, never to reveal who was her assailant. The young servant, upon whose mind the beauty and the kindness of the princess had made a lively impression, promised all, and Madame de Mineleko, from this moment, ap- peared calmer and more tranquil. Unhappily their pious silence was to be useless, and the curiosity of the town was going to be most fully satisfied. Two little girls had been involuntary spectators of the sudden horrible attack on the ambassadress. According to their custom, they were peaceably gathering, on the borders of the forest, some straw- berries and flowers, destined for the lovely, dainty worldlings of the city. These two flower-girls, by their frequent visits in the royal park, were ac- quainted with the by-ways and the frequenters of it. From a distance, they had seen the princess pass, who, musing, was allowing her horse to follow its own caprices. This young woman, as good as beautiful, was winning all hearts; the simple flower- girls were quite proud of the amiable bow with which the elegant Amazon had responded to their profound courtesies. While prattling about the Eomichbooks.com