Принц и нищий
The sacrifice
Hisangerbegantoriseasthesenseofthisnewindignitywhichhadbeenputuponhimsankhome;itjumpedtosummerheat,thenextmoment,whenhesawaneggsailthroughtheairandcrushitselfagainstHendon’scheek,andheardthecrowdroaritsenjoymentoftheepisode.Hesprangacrosstheopencircleandconfrontedtheofficerincharge,crying—
"Forshame!Thisismyservant—sethimfree!Iamthe—"
"Oh,peace!"exclaimedHendon,inapanic,"thou’ltdestroythyself.Mindhimnot,officer,heismad."
"Givethyselfnotroubleastothematterofmindinghim,goodman,Ihavesmallmindtomindhim;butastoteachinghimsomewhat,tothatIamwellinclined."Heturnedtoasubordinateandsaid,"Givethelittlefoolatasteortwoofthelash,tomendhismanners."
"Halfadozenwillbetterservehisturn,"suggestedSirHugh,whohadriddenup,amomentbefore,totakeapassingglanceattheproceedings.
TheKingwasseized.Hedidnotevenstruggle,soparalysedwashewiththemerethoughtofthemonstrousoutragethatwasproposedtobeinflicteduponhissacredperson.HistorywasalreadydefiledwiththerecordofthescourgingofanEnglishkingwithwhips—itwasanintolerablereflectionthathemustfurnishaduplicateofthatshamefulpage.Hewasinthetoils,therewasnohelpforhim;hemusteithertakethispunishmentorbegforitsremission.Hardconditions;hewouldtakethestripes—akingmightdothat,butakingcouldnotbeg.
Butmeantime,MilesHendonwasresolvingthedifficulty.
