Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 15 evening! That is what it is to be a ‘new-comer!’ ” and the countess made a disdainful move. “A new arrival—a sensation,” smilingly said the Prince of Theiss. | “And of avery bad reputation!” exclaimed, with acerbity, this countess, acidulated like a green fruit when she heard the beauty and youth of other women extolled. “What! she has a bad reputation?” “Hxecrable, mon prince! It was about her that they talked so much last summer at Carlsbad.” “Talked of her! With whom? and who said it?” The countess, having no name to furnish, seized the ball that calumniaters, when at bay, always seize. “With whom? Monseigneur is very simple! But— with everybody. Who said it? But—everybody said it. See her eyes, how they seek all the men!” The Prince of Theiss had by no means made this remark so unfavorable to every honest woman; but, in order not to augment the fury of this gentle countess, become an enraged shrew by the admira- tion which this young beauty excited, he prudently changed the tenor of their conversation. “ And she comes from?” “She is a Caucasian—that is all that I know. Her husband is he who, eight or nine months ago, had with the Prince of H—— that celebrated duel, for which they sent him to take the air in the heart of Asia when, it is said,” this viper added, malicious- ly “the emperor allowed himself to be moved by the prayers—the favors even of the guilty man’s wife.” “What? Madame de Mineleko was already mar- (E(0) mm C ooo) KS (GE @)