Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

132 HER ROYAL LOVER. heard nothing but calumnies about me, you can hardly desire my presence at your court?” “Much to the contrary! Iam always sure, when I hear evil spoken of a woman, that she merits ad- miration, and this hate, excited by jealousy, incites in me an eager desire to know the accused.” “May I, without being indiscreet, ask you what they have been able to say against me?” replied the princess, essaying a sad smile. “What! you desire me to recollect all?” “Oh, no! that would be too much, perhaps! But endeavor, at least, to recall a part,” insisted the ambassadress. “That which you demand, princess, is very deli- cate.” “Truly, that is one reason the more why I am eager to know more.” “Well!—they say that your husband is constantly obliged to have duels on account of you,” responded the king, with an ever so little embarrassed air, who perceived too late the mistake he had made in entangling himself in so delicate a subject. “They spoke falsely, sire.” “But, however, this duel with H——, in the capital of Flanders?” “Has been a very lamentable assault, it is true, owed to a fit of jealousy unexpectedly aroused in my husband.” “And you did not love this young man?” “Not the least in the world; I had never even thought of it; I confess, however: that I have been afflicted by his death.” “And you have never loved any but your hus- band?” GEomichbooks. co