Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER, 47 When and where has the ambassador seen this figure which has left only vague recollections in his mind? He considers, but in vain. Suddenly he recollects. It is that young man who was convers- ing with his wife when, on the evening before, he was looking for her at the court ball. Still another suitor! Who can this one be? It is very necessary that he should know. The young man was speaking with great anima- tion to his beautiful companion, and if Monsieur de Mineleko had been less jealous, he had easily been able to observe that the princess was listening to this passionate Romeo with much more fear than love. Although having been very much smitten with her first betrothal, Najeska Ivanowna had never had for him a passion as profound as that which her extra- ordinary beauty had inspired in the heart of Heili- genthal. Undoubtedly, she had loved him a great deal, but it was because he loved her so much! Her love for him, if one may say so, had sprung from his; but, since she was in Thessaly, had not the king, so seducing, inspired in her a more lively, a more seri- ous admiration? Alas! the young woman would not have dared to confess it; she did not realize clearly her own sensations, but she felt that, unknown to . herself, the thought of Charles Ferdinand absorbed her entirely. Waldemar was no longer anything to her. But, however, what anguish had she not experi- enced when, at that time, she bad been obliged to make for her father the sacrifice of her marriage with Heiligenthal ! This morning, while Mineleko was observing GoOomiic JOO <S (€ Q)