Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 273 her attention. Najeska Ivanowna, having removed her gloves, was pressing her icy hands upon her burning brow ready to burst; her cap, although light, appearing an insupportable weight to her aching head, had been cast aside. Freed thus from all fetters her heavy and silky chestnut hair, dis- heveled by the jolting of the vehicle, was falling al- most unknotted upon the dark green plush mantle which scarcely covered her. Her remarkable beauty was not alone attracting attention; a lively curi- osity was seizing their minds at the sight of this un- known woman who was militarily escorted by a whole detachment of police. They were regarding her with stupor, and asking who she could be, for in the poorest cabins they had the portrait of the late queen and some of the princesses (the royal family of Thessaly being very popular in the coun- try), and this woman was surely not one of them, the astonished peasants were saying to each other. Who, then, was she? The carriage was soon ready again. “Ts Madame la Princess disposed to continue her journey?” the officer demanded, respectfully. This request was only made for form’s sake, for whether she was willing or not, the exile was obliged to continue her journey forward. But the men had received the explicit order to treat this young unfor- tunate woman with all the respect due to her rank. Najeska Ivanowna was so much absorbed by her sad meditations, that at first she did not quite com- prehend. The officer reiterated his request a second time. Then, rising frightened, as if coming out of a dream: “Let us set out, if all is ready,” said she, her voice, like an unknown voice, sounding strange to her comicbooks.com