Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 341: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 333 Ivanowna in the presentiments which were beset- ting her and undermining more and more her broken constitution. Some days after she received, to her great sur- prise, a visit from M. Klug. As this celebrated man did not absent himself only on very great occa- sions, she was chilled to the heart when he was announced. Alas! she had only too much reason. M. Klug, not daring to confide such bad news toa written message, wishing to extenuate the frightful shock by communicating it to her with every possible precaution, had come to acquaint her with the worst, that is to say the annulment of her marriage with the king. He took a poignant interest in this victim so gentle, so resigned, and so beautiful; he was almost as astounded as she by this verdict so unexpected, so iniquitous, rendered by the judges. When Najeska Ivanowna noiselessly entered the chamber like a pale ghost which glides the old advocate was very much struck by the greas change that those few weeks had wrought in her. He believed he saw the specter of that which had formerly been her, when this woman, so pale, in a long dressing-gown of mourning, appeared in the twilight of this somber cell. Huis old hardened heart beat so violently when he imparted this new mis- fortune to her, that he was astonished at the gloomy resignation with which she listened to him without interrupting him. “The opinion of the judges, madam,” said M. Klug, “has been much discussed. It was only the preponderating voice of President Haller, an all- powerful voice, which has decided your sad des- tiny.” GComichbooks (e(@) m