Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

HER ROYAL LOVER. 13 chantment which plunges the soul in an indescriba- ble and melancholy reverie. “Here,” the great poet has said, “is fought the combat of day and night.” Mineleko, in the presence of this sublime spec- tacle, feels his chest, like the waves of the sea, alternately swell and subside. He contemplates, he admires; subjugated he falls on his knees, and alone in the presence of God, he adores the Creator in His magnificent creation. Suddenly, similar to Our Lord, a woman advances on this sea, dragging after her the inanimate body of a man wounded to the death. This woman, with her hair floating over her shoulders, is supernatural- ly beautiful. A large and white garment envelops her like a shroud from head to foot. Terror glitters in her haggard eyes; the man whom she drags like painful burden is all stained with blood; the glitter- ing rings which sparkle upon the hands of this vision, let you perceive the blackish red stains which cover her nervous and cold fingers. Is it she who has assassinated this man whose corpse seems riveted to her feet? Filled with horror, the ambassador regards her convulsively. From whence comes this unhappy wretch? what is the crime of this man? what is his chastisement? what are his features? But that hair, so remarkable for its beauty, for its peculiar color, is that of his wife! Those deep eyes, of a dark blue, those noble and proud features, now pale and rigid like a marble mask, belong indeed to Najeska Ivanowna. He utters a terrible: cry. Frightened, breathless, he arises; his hair is glued to his temples, which are bathed in a cold sweat; he ecomichbooks:.com