The Maiden Monarch (Volume 1); Or, Island Queen

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1840 Excerpt: ...herself from her own meditations, she addressed herself to Wickliffe and to me: --Gentlemen, I consider it due to you, as the principal sufferers, by the conduct of the culprits before us, that I should ask of you, since I am about to act in opposition to the established laws of the country, whether you would wish to offer an objection to my disposing of them in any way that I may deem expedient? We simultaneously made a profound bow, and dropping each of us on one knee, acknowledged our allegiance to her majesty's pleasure. She then turned towards the prisoners, and inquired, If they were willing to abide by her single judgment? to which the man deigned no reply. A close observer might have perceived a malicious grin play about his features, which, as it drew the lips in, displayed the double row of teeth, which showed an almost dazzling whiteness as they gleamed through the thick black hair which surrounded the mouth; but the old woman, advancing a pace or two, threw herself prostrate at the feet of the queen, and entreated her to spare her son--to visit all the punishment their crimes merited upon herself--acknowledging, at the same time, that she had schooled that son to vice, and had trained the noble spirit of the boy until she had completed her purpose of transforming it to the daring outrage of the robber. A seemingly reluctant acquiescence with the queen's pleasure was at length elicited from the man; and, heavily ironed as he was, and without knowing their destination, they were placed in a vehicle and conveyed from the jail. The queen and her attendants, too, quitted the sombre building, and with a relay of four horses, were soon on their way to the palace at, where they arrived in the after part of the day. The queen was m...