Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

168 HER ROYAL LOVER. cousin, the emperor. The response will be here to- morrow morning; you may travel this evening, then, without danger. Recognize in this prompt action a proof of my lively solicitude for you, and the fervent desire that I have to remove from your highness all the complications which might arise.” “A yoint, still more important than all the rest, escapes your majesty. The princess, (on pronounc- ine this name, Mineleko’s lips trembled, and an intense suffocation contracted his throat), since some hours, bas been seriously ill.” The king, who was ignorant of the danger in which Najeska Ivanowna was, could not conceal the emotion which wrung his whole being on learn- ing this detail. “Has the condition of Madame le Ambassadrice grown worse, then, since this afternoon? When I sent Count Adlersward, at two o’clock, to inquire about her, she appeared to be as well as her terrible accident would permit.” With all his gracious thoughts, the ambassador was scarcely listening: “If I set out to-morrow, as your majesty com-— mands me, it is possible that I—that I may never see my wife!” The unhappy man was really so afflicted, that the king, who, however, was suffering also, and for the same beloved object, was seized with sudden com- passion for the unfortunate man. “When did this terrible change take place?” “ At five o’clock.” “You were, doubtless, at home?” “Alas, no! I only returned at six o’clock.” Again the king looked strangely at the ambassador. “Permit me to tell you, Monsieur le Prince, how Eomichbooks. co