Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

92 HER ROYAL LOVER. the prince, divining probably that which was pass- ing in him, She was seized by a nervous trembling; she was afraid; her eyes did not dare to encounter those of her husband. When the hour in which they always separated arrived, Madame de Mineleko arose, and bidding him a timid “Good-night,” wished to retire. The prince, half furious with himself for being capable of suspecting her, but, however, not being able to hinder himself from doing so, experienced a sudden revulsion before the mild, lovely eyes of his wife. “Najeska Ivanowna, remain!” he _ entreated. “Dost thou not desire that we may pass the night together? Dost thou not wish that we may confide to each other all that which we have in our hearts, as in the first days of our marriage?” said he, sud- denly coaxing her, a habit which also recalled the first days of their marriage. “As you like,” responded Najeska Ivanowna, “but Lam so fatigued that I would be grateful to you if you would let me rest.” The ambassador did not try to retain her; it is true that he imagined himself to have so much to watch this night, that an absolute solitude was in- dispensable to him. The response of his wife, was for his jealous heart, a confirmation that she was expecting some one. Hardly alone, Mineleko breathed a profound sigh; he went toa table upon which a statuette of his wife was placed, he contemplated it passionately. What were his thoughts? He was frightened at the anxiety which agitated him, for if Najeska Ivan- owna was guilty, the police would sooner or later Eomicbooks.co