Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 261 The grandmistress, triumphant, a malicious smile in her eyes, was following ironically all the phrases of this conflict which was fought in the mind of the princess. “You show me this paper; so be it!” said she. “But lam the king’s legitimate wife; say, then, to those who have senée you, that I shall not quit this palace without having seen my husband again, with- out having heard from his lips that this decree is not a horrible fraud.” “The king has forseen all, Madame la Princess. I am also to respond to this demand that it is abso- lutely impossible for him to accede to your desire. An immense price is attached to this determina- tion.” A strident laugh escaped from the distorted lips of the young woman. “Ah, well!” said she, eégolutaly: “if he does not come to me, I will go to him!” She arose to go out, but Madame de Langweilig intrepidly barred her passage. “Tam your prisoner, then? undoubtedly the victim of some infernal machination?” the king’s wife vio- lently cried. “Madame la Princess, I explain the facts clearly to you: there is neither mystery nor treachery. There has been signed against you a decree of ban- ishment to which under penalty of being compelled by force, you must obey, and that instantly. The thing to clearly establish is what is best for you to do,” said the grandmistress, artfully, “itis for you to submit calmly, for the present, to that which is commanded you by a will stronger than your own.” Afterward, if you deem it expedient, you may at- tempt the steps that you may deem useful. Eomichbooks.com