Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER, 29 SO many apprehensions that you have for the danger that I might incur. But, do not tremble; I will be calm, I will be prudent, for I love you! for I want you! When I received from your father that letter which put forever an impediment to our projects, I became furious. I wished to come and seek you, to kill you, you whom I had loved so much and whom I lost, your father who broke this union, and that other, who stole from me the only desire of my life, the joy of my existence! I wished to kill him no matter who he was—I wanted blood in order to satiate my vengeance. But I became ill—oh, yes! very ill—perhaps you find me changed even yet. However, I am healed, in body at least. One single aim alone remains to me now; that of possessing you, of having you myself, in spite of this marriage, in spite of your husband, whose life I want and that I will have! Najeska Ivanowna, I am going to leave you, to give you time to choose. One observa- tion alone before separating from you; never forget that I am as tenacious as he—the other one. What- soever you do, we are bound to each other; our union, sealed by an invisible spirit, is more indis- soluble than if the church itself had consecrated. it. After having been your fiance, you have now no longer the right to repulse me.” Carried away by his passion, he seemed to take a bitter pleasure in pouring out the overflow of his heart. “My husband!” suddenly murmured Madame de Mineleko. In fact, the Ambassador of Caucasus, putting aside the portiere which concealed the place where the two young people were, had just ap- peared. He advanced toward them, his brow Gomicbooks (E(@) m