Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 211 “All the diamonds that you received from your first husband, you have delicately returned; the second does not wish to see you less adorned. Ac- cording to the rites of the ceremonial of the fete, you must make one of the royal cortege which will con- duct my daughter to the foot of the altar. In this imposing suite, | wish you to surpass all the other ladies in beauty and magnificence: here, then, is the diadem which will encircle your brow, oh! my adored queen!” “You are good! you are generous!” “Do not thank me, Najeska Ivanowna. The hap- piness that I will experience to see you thus, I have managed like a true egotist; I will enjoy it all alone; for if you pass unperceived by all the flat- terers who surround you with their hollow and false compliments, you will shine for me with all the brilliancy of a star in the midst of a clear and translucent sky.” “T do not wish you to commit any imprudent acts forme. Your wife will be content and happy to live retired. In no case must they belteve that I have married you for ambition, for love of ostenta- tion. My position will become so delicate that it be- hooves me to pay double attention to my slightest actions.” The princess’ divorce left her in possession of a very modest income. She had haughtily refused to accept the alimony which the law compelled the prince to give her. Her father, 1n his later years, besides his losses at baccarat, had gambled on the Bourse, and a great part of his fortune had remained hooked to the thorns and brambles of speculation. The old do- main on the shores of the Black Sea was now the Eomicbooks.com