Принц и нищий
Edward as King
By-and-byhesawtheofficercomingagain,inagreathurry;sohepluckedhiscouragetogether,purposingtomeethistroubleasbecameaman.Theofficerorderedthementoloosetheprisonerandreturnhisswordtohim;thenbowedrespectfully,andsaid—
"Pleaseyou,sir,tofollowme."
Hendonfollowed,sayingtohimself,"An’Iwerenottravellingtodeathandjudgment,andsomustneedseconomiseinsin,Iwouldthrottlethisknaveforhismockcourtesy."
Thetwotraversedapopulouscourt,andarrivedatthegrandentranceofthepalace,wheretheofficer,withanotherbow,deliveredHendonintothehandsofagorgeousofficial,whoreceivedhimwithprofoundrespectandledhimforwardthroughagreathall,linedonbothsideswithrowsofsplendidflunkeys(whomadereverentialobeisanceasthetwopassedalong,butfellintodeath-throesofsilentlaughteratourstatelyscarecrowthemomenthisbackwasturned),andupabroadstaircase,amongflocksoffinefolk,andfinallyconductedhimintoavastroom,cloveapassageforhimthroughtheassemblednobilityofEngland,thenmadeabow,remindedhimtotakehishatoff,andlefthimstandinginthemiddleoftheroom,amarkforalleyes,forplentyofindignantfrowns,andforasufficiencyofamusedandderisivesmiles.
MilesHendonwasentirelybewildered.TheresattheyoungKing,underacanopyofstate,fivestepsaway,withhisheadbentdownandaside,speakingwithasortofhumanbirdofparadise—aduke,maybe.
