Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

154 HER ROYAL LOVER. Whatsoever he may do, a man is not absolutely wicked; there is a sentiment of pity at the bottom of hisnature. On learning the terrible accident which happened to the unfortunate Najeska Ivanowna, a frightful remorse invaded the heart of the young man. He was conscious of his infamy; the words expired in his throat, paralyzed by shame. “My God! it was he, then, he alone, who was the cause of this misfortune; the outraged husband, consti- tuting himself a judge, had thus half-killed his wite !” “Think, then,” added Walpurga, “of the rage which will seize the ambassador when, on return- ing, he will hear of the assault! Monsieur Haller, whom I have accidentally met, has told me also that the chief of police, fearing the indignation of the prince, has just set the whole force at work in order to unravel, as quickly as possible, this dreadful affair, which would lead one to believe that a ‘vendetta’ weighs upon all the inmates of the hotel of the Caucasian Embassy.” When he was again alone, Waldemar de Heiligen- thal let his head fall heavily upon his hands, and bursting into sobs, twice there escaped from his overburdened breast strange incoherent words. Walpurga de Heiligenthal spoke the truth. Gross- mann, the chief of police, was in his element. Since the hour in which the accident was reported, they were coming in troops to his office, to demand de- tails about the news which was agitating the whole — city. The reporters of the Nouwvelliste, those of the Echo of Thessaly, the two largest political journals of the city, and the editors of the most insignificant papers, repulsed at the embassy which they had invaded at comichooks.co m