Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 203: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 195 under the influence of an impotent passion, calm yourself! compose yourself!” But the unhappy man dared not. Nevertheless, not being able to restrain himself, and fearing an irreparable catastrophe, he at length decided to knock gently. At first he obtains no response; but he is not discouraged, and his perseverance is at last recompensed. An altered voice demands: “Who is there?” “Monsieur le Ambassadeur, it is I, Vassili.” “What do you want of me?” “That your excellency will permit me to enter.” The door opens. The prince was so changed, so horrible to look at that the old man drew back frightened. “My master! my dear master!” he cried, “I am only a beast, I know it, but a beast that is absolutely devoted to you. Calmer and more reflective than your highness, I implore you, since there is at pres- ent no other devoted person near you, to be pleased to tell all to your servant, and allow yourself to be advised a little by him.” Vassili must have had an all-powerful love and in- terest for his master in order to dare to speak to him thus. The broken hearted Mineleko was touched by this great proof of affection. “Poor, courageous fellow!” said he. “Thou lovest me, then? thou lovest me in spite of my character, in spite of my brutalities? And they—” He giggled ferociously, aud showed that which he had just received and where the adjectives “brute” and “beast” were written in speaking of him. Vas- sili cast his eyes upon it; in a moment he compre- hended all. He was struck, Gomichooks.com —