Принц и нищий
Le Roi est mort — vive le Roi
Thenhestrucktheboyalightblowontheshoulderwiththeflatofhissword,exclaiming,"Rise,HumphreyMarlow,HereditaryGrandWhipping-BoytotheRoyalHouseofEngland!Banishsorrow—Iwillbetakemetomybooksagain,andstudysoillthattheymustinjusticetreblethywage,somightilyshallthebusinessofthineofficebeaugmented."
ThegratefulHumphreyrespondedfervidly—
"Thanks,Omostnoblemaster,thisprincelylavishnessdothfarsurpassmymostdistempereddreamsoffortune.NowshallIbehappyallmydays,andallthehouseofMarlowafterme."
Tomhadwitenoughtoperceivethatherewasaladwhocouldbeusefultohim.HeencouragedHumphreytotalk,andhewasnothingloath.HewasdelightedtobelievethathewashelpinginTom’s‘cure’;foralways,assoonashehadfinishedcallingbacktoTom’sdiseasedmindthevariousparticularsofhisexperiencesandadventuresintheroyalschool-roomandelsewhereaboutthepalace,henoticedthatTomwasthenableto‘recall’thecircumstancesquiteclearly.AttheendofanhourTomfoundhimselfwellfreightedwithveryvaluableinformationconcerningpersonagesandmatterspertainingtotheCourt;soheresolvedtodrawinstructionfromthissourcedaily;andtothisendhewouldgiveordertoadmitHumphreytotheroyalclosetwheneverhemightcome,providedtheMajestyofEnglandwasnotengagedwithotherpeople.HumphreyhadhardlybeendismissedwhenmyLordHertfordarrivedwithmoretroubleforTom.
