Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 149 the Geheimrath gave to this event quite another character than that which it could have for the generality of the people If Najeska Ivanowna thus refused to name him who had struck her, it was, then, because this being bore a respectable name that she wished to defend against public indignation; was not this man, whom she wished still to spare,-in spite of all, her hus- band? Oh! noble and devoted nature! how well he recognized, then, his well-beloved! “Monsieur de Mineleko must be in a frightful state,” said the king, suddenly. “He will be so, surely, when he returns.” “What! he is not at home?” “No, your majesty. He went to take a ride nearly an hour after Madame la Princess, and he has not yet returned.” “Ah! This is astonishing!” thought the king, who did not forget that it was precisely on account of the prince being absorbed by his weekly courier, this day, that he had chosen it for his assignation with the ambassadress. But the king, judging it in nowise proper to share his suppositions with any one whatever, dismissed the physician. So, the doctor had said, that Monsieur de Mineleko had gone out an hour after his wife. On connecting this strange detail with the obstinate refusal of the princess to name her enemy, the king easily recon- structed the scene which must have taken place between the husband and wife. No longer a doubt, the husband, having had some suspicions, had fol- lowed his wife, and a violent scene had occurred. If Mineleko had not yet returned to the embassy, it was because he feared to return there. Oh! for his tranquillity, it would be necessary for him to Ecomicbooks.com