Принц и нищий
Coronation Day
"Usedit—yetcouldnotexplainwhereitwas?"
"Ididnotknowitwasthattheywanted.Theydidnotdescribeit,yourMajesty."
"Thenhowusedyouit?"
TheredbloodbegantostealupintoTom’scheeks,andhedroppedhiseyesandwassilent.
"Speakup,goodlad,andfearnothing,"saidtheKing."HowusedyoutheGreatSealofEngland?"
Tomstammeredamoment,inapatheticconfusion,thengotitout—
"Tocracknutswith!"
Poorchild,theavalancheoflaughterthatgreetedthisnearlyswepthimoffhisfeet.ButifadoubtremainedinanymindthatTomCantywasnottheKingofEnglandandfamiliarwiththeaugustappurtenancesofroyalty,thisreplydisposedofitutterly.
MeantimethesumptuousrobeofstatehadbeenremovedfromTom’sshoulderstotheKing’s,whoseragswereeffectuallyhiddenfromsightunderit.Thenthecoronationceremonieswereresumed;thetrueKingwasanointedandthecrownsetuponhishead,whilstcannonthunderedthenewstothecity,andallLondonseemedtorockwithapplause.
