Принц и нищий
In Prison
Forabribethejailerhadfurnishedliquortosomeoftheprisoners;singingofribaldsongs,fighting,shouting,andcarousingwasthenaturalconsequence.Atlast,awhileaftermidnight,amanattackedawomanandnearlykilledherbybeatingherovertheheadwithhismanaclesbeforethejailercouldcometotherescue.Thejailerrestoredpeacebygivingthemanasoundclubbingabouttheheadandshoulders—thenthecarousingceased;andafterthat,allhadanopportunitytosleepwhodidnotmindtheannoyanceofthemoaningsandgroaningsofthetwowoundedpeople.
Duringtheensuingweek,thedaysandnightswereofamonotonoussamenessastoevents;menwhosefacesHendonrememberedmoreorlessdistinctly,came,byday,togazeatthe‘impostor’andrepudiateandinsulthim;andbynightthecarousingandbrawlingwentonwithsymmetricalregularity.However,therewasachangeofincidentatlast.Thejailerbroughtinanoldman,andsaidtohim—
"Thevillainisinthisroom—castthyoldeyesaboutandseeifthoucanstsaywhichishe."
Hendonglancedup,andexperiencedapleasantsensationforthefirsttimesincehehadbeeninthejail.Hesaidtohimself,"ThisisBlakeAndrews,aservantallhislifeinmyfather’sfamily—agoodhonestsoul,witharightheartinhisbreast.Thatis,formerly.Butnonearetruenow;allareliars.Thismanwillknowme—andwilldenyme,too,liketherest."
