Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

50 HER ROYAL LOVER. liberty to receive him. It was during this short in- terval that he overheard the following conversation, held on the balcony on which all the lower apart- ments of the palace opened. ““ Hop, Praslin!hop, Chviseul!’ Madame du Barry has said,” cried a bantering voice; “I—I say: hop the king! hop Heiligenthal!” “« And for what reason do you say that?” responded another voice. The drawing-room in which Mineleko was, was generally empty, and the two indiscreet persons who spoke thus supposed that it was impossible for them to be overheard. “Hor two reasons: at first, on account of the striking sensation produced upon the king at the sight of the lovely Ambassadress of Caucasus, and afterward because of that time when she was said to have been the affianced to Heiligenthal. She only married the other one, it appears, in order to save her father. Is it true? Is it false? I know nothing of that! A balloon that I threw in the air! Answer me: which of the two champions will first succeed in attaining the good graces of the prin- cess?” - Mineleko was terribly shocked by this revelation— for, hitherto, he had not been aware that his wife had ever been engaged before he had asked her in marriage—he was about to rush forward to see who dared to hold such a conversation, when the folding- doors of the royal apartments opened: “The king!” Although terribly agitated, the prince immediately became again the polished, cold, and correct diplo- mat that he was esteemed at his court. The diplomatic affairs were discussed with such comicbooks.com