Принц и нищий
Edward as King
Presentlyourwhipping-boypassedhim,thenwheeledaboutandscannedhisfigurewell,sayingtohimself,"An’thatisnottheveryvagabondhisMajestyisinsuchaworryabout,thenamIanass—thoughbelikeIwasthatbefore.Heanswereththedescriptiontoarag—thatGodshouldmaketwosuchwouldbetocheapenmiraclesbywastefulrepetition.IwouldIcouldcontriveanexcusetospeakwithhim."
MilesHendonsavedhimthetrouble;forheturnedabout,then,asamangenerallywillwhensomebodymesmeriseshimbygazinghardathimfrombehind;andobservingastronginterestintheboy’seyes,hesteppedtowardhimandsaid—
"Youhavejustcomeoutfromthepalace;doyoubelongthere?"
"Yes,yourworship."
"KnowyouSirHumphreyMarlow?"
Theboystarted,andsaidtohimself,"Lord!mineolddepartedfather!"Thenheansweredaloud,"Rightwell,yourworship."
"Good—ishewithin?"
"Yes,"saidtheboy;andadded,tohimself,"withinhisgrave."
"MightIcraveyourfavourtocarrymynametohim,andsayIbegtosayawordinhisear?"
"Iwilldespatchthebusinessrightwillingly,fairsir."
"ThensayMilesHendon,sonofSirRichard,isherewithout—Ishallbegreatlyboundentoyou,mygoodlad."
Theboylookeddisappointed."TheKingdidnotnamehimso,"hesaidtohimself;"butitmatterethnot,thisishistwinbrother,andcangivehisMajestynewsoft’otherSir-Odds-and-Ends,Iwarrant."SohesaidtoMiles,"Stepinthereamoment,goodsir,andwaittillIbringyouword."