Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

66 HER ROYAL LOVER. CHAPTER Ix. THE OPIATE. Three weeks had already elapsed since the arrival of the Prince and Princess of Mineleko in the capital of Thessaly. By dint of tact and skill, Najeska Ivanowna had hitherto succeeded in holding young Heiligenthal in check. One evening that, meditative, she was alone in her chamber, the princess felt herself suddenly in- vaded by a great pre-occupation, a profound dis- quietude. The day had been oppressive, a burning sun had darted rays of fire upon the city; and this evening the atmosphere, completely charged with electricity, announced a tempest that great black and copper-colored clouds rendered imminent. Poor Najeska Ivanowna was not suffering alone from the influence of nature; that which she ex- perienced was more moral than physical. The attentions of Heiligenthal were becoming more importunate than ever. The unhappy woman was obliged to confess it to herself; she would be soon at the end of her resources. The young man, furious at the care which she took to avoid him, revenged himself by making her weep at home, over letters, some more passionate and compromising than others. What skill was displayed that none might fall into the hands of her husband! Heiligenthal was doing everything to bring about an open scandal, wherein would be ingulfed at one stroke, the reputation, the happiness, the tranquillity of Najeska Ivanowna. (E(0) mm Cc JOO KH (E(0)