Принц и нищий
Disowned
"MosttrulyIbelieveit,"saidMiles,bitterly."Thepowerthatcancommandonelife-longfriendtobetrayanddisownanother,andbeobeyed,maywelllooktobeobeyedinquarterswherebreadandlifeareonthestakeandnocobwebtiesofloyaltyandhonourareconcerned."
Afainttingeappearedforamomentinthelady’scheek,andshedroppedhereyestothefloor;buthervoicebetrayednoemotionwhensheproceeded—
"Ihavewarnedyou—Imuststillwarnyou—togohence.Thismanwilldestroyyou,else.Heisatyrantwhoknowsnopity.I,whoamhisfetteredslave,knowthis.PoorMiles,andArthur,andmydearguardian,SirRichard,arefreeofhim,andatrest:betterthatyouwerewiththemthanthatyoubidehereintheclutchesofthismiscreant.Yourpretensionsareamenacetohistitleandpossessions;youhaveassaultedhiminhisownhouse:youareruinedifyoustay.Go—donothesitate.Ifyoulackmoney,takethispurse,Ibegofyou,andbribetheservantstoletyoupass.Oh,bewarned,poorsoul,andescapewhileyoumay."
Milesdeclinedthepursewithagesture,androseupandstoodbeforeher.
"Grantmeonething,"hesaid."Letyoureyesrestuponmine,sothatImayseeiftheybesteady.There—nowanswerme.AmIMilesHendon?"
"No.Iknowyounot."
"Swearit!"
Theanswerwaslow,butdistinct—
"Iswear."
"Oh,thispassesbelief!"
"Fly!Whywillyouwastetheprecioustime?Fly,andsaveyourself."