Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

270 | HER ROYAL LOVER, ran along the road lighted by the pale stars, had the appearance of hideous gnomes whose bizarre forms frightened the shattered nerves of Madame de Mine- leko. The air became colder as the night advanced, but Madame de Mineleko, almost inanimate, in her cor- ner, did not feel the cold which was benumbing her limbs. She was so confused, so absorbed by the rapid events of this inauspicious day, that she be- lheved she was a prey toa frightful nightmare, she was even asking herself if she was not a fantastic personage of Hoffmann’s tales, flying in this sinis- ter night. Long moments elapsed, sadly and slowly, in the jolting of this vehicle in which Najeska Ivanowna was alone with her maid. The arrival at the first relay, withdrew her from the torpor which had usurped her, and recalled her to the sufferings of reality. Now was about to commence the laborious ascension of these high mountains, whose rugged and sinuous road was becoming, while advancing, more and more painful to climb. Madame de Mineleko, instead of going directly to the nearest frontier, had profited by the only favor which had been granted her, “provided that she promptly quitted the territory of the king.” She was going, then, to Montaboro, the first town in the mountains which was no longer a part of Thessaly. lt was there that her two dear children were in se- curity, her two last consolations. Banished from the world, rejected by him who ought to be her aid and protection, she was going to demand of God that which men refused her. Madame de Mineleko, the daughter of a Christian mother, whose father, a Polish prince, had died in the defense of his faith Gomicbooks:¢om