Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. O55 “No! no! it isimmediately, at this hour, I tell you, that I want this woman, this infamous creature, to goaway! Oh! great God! why can I not drive her away myself?” vociferated this old countess, with ~ rage become a furious shrew. We will pass over the terrible and undignified scene which followed. The unhappy Najeska Ivan- owna was only too correct! her fate was irrevoca- bly decided. The king, surprised, caught by this unexpected avalanche, which descended suddenly upon him, had not the courage to open his lips. The “imperial mother-in-law” did not permit him to speak, only when she saw that he was frightened enough to swear to her, upon the most sacred oaths, that never would he attempt to see this “miserable creature” - again, whom he had “almost in spite of her,” mar- ried this very morning and to whom, before God and before men, he had promised assistance and protec- tion, love and fidelity! What an example for this son-in-law of a few hours! Where, then, shall we find good faith and honor, if itis not the habitual and even forced guest in the hearts of kings! “Do not hesitate, sire! swear to me! or if not, I declare to you that I will forever disinherit your children,” raved the furious old woman. Charles Ferdinand gave proof of but very little in- telligence. With coolness and reflection he would have known that the empress, in spite of her indig- nation, her irritation, would never go so far as to put into execution the threat which a veritable in- sanity wrested from her. She to injure her grand- children, whom she loved more than the world, the children of her idolized daughter? never! Her old hardened heart had only one virtue, her maternal Eomichooks.com - ’