Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 313 “The heat was intense, the rarefied air was in- sufficient for my oppressed lungs. Some heavy black clouds were amassing in the sky which was becoming more and more threatening. Under this leaden atmosphere a lethargic sleep gradually in- vaded me. Not yet knowing whether I was awake or asleep, I believed however, that I heard near me a dull and persistent noise. Was it real or did it belong to the dream that I had, and from which it snatched me? “To this noise a deep sigh succeeded, then a species of arattle. I could not budge. My legs, as though paralyzed, could no longer move; my body no longer obeyed my will, but nevertheless I was not insensible to physical pain, for I felt the neu- ralgia still torturing me. Notwithstanding the heaviness of my limbs, I believed that death was transporting me to unknown spheres, that I was fly- ing in space. My whole being seemed vibrating with a peculiar electricity. When, by an extra- ordinary effort, I succeeded in opening my eyes, Thad no idea of the objects upon which they rested. All that which remained living within me belonged only to this surprising spiritual life which possessed me. A _ cold sweat lke that of the ereatest terror was breaking out on my forehead; my heart was beating to bursting, as though I was afraid. And the dull, sharp noise was still persisting. Becoming more and more awake, I perceived that this noise, that I believed to be that of my heart, belonged rather to another being who seemed to be dragging himself painfully near me. I thought I heard a voice which called me—that of the princess. I made a new effort to rise; useless effort; an immense weight nailed me Eomicbooks