Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

v4 HER ROYAL LOVER. examines himself, he feels himself. Does he sleep, does he sleep still?» His terror is so great that he remains there, rooted to the same spot; his efforts are vain; he cannot shake off the deadly torpor which has invaded him. But it is a dream, a vision —nothing of that which he has seen is true—his Najeska Ivanowna! his idol—his love! Perceiving his face, that is reflected in a mirror opposite him, Mineleko realizes, perfectly, that he is now awake, and that he has just been the plaything of a frightful dream. He breathes. Suddenly an unusual noise is heard; something anomalous is happening. It is there—near him—within two steps —but benumbed, impotent he remains, nailed to his place. A sudden rage seizes him and chases away the last vestige of the anzesthetic. During a few moments almost completely lucid, he seizes a light, and: hastily penetrates in the corridor, where he believes that he has recognized the noise of a step that they seek to dissimulate. Although his strength seems ready to abandon him, he rushes forward. Nothing! “He sees only the night, hears only the silence.” It seems to him, however, that a shadow arises, and, in less time than it requires to describe it, it disappeared by the window at the end of the corridor. This shadow has a body; itisaman. Whois it, that would dare to penetrate at this hour, in his residence? He wishes to know, but the night is dark, he cannot distinguish anything; he counts upon his light in vain, which he holds in the expectation of discover- ing an indication, one alone, to put him on the track of the criminal; but the wind, friend of the fugitive, blows out that last glimmer, and plunges him in pro- found darkness. (E(0) nA) C JOO KH (E(0)