Принц и нищий
Le Roi est mort — vive le Roi
HesaidthattheLordsoftheCouncil,fearingthatsomeoverwroughtreportoftheKing’sdamagedhealthmighthaveleakedoutandgotabroad,theydeemeditwiseandbestthathisMajestyshouldbegintodineinpublicafteradayortwo—hiswholesomecomplexionandvigorousstep,assistedbyacarefullyguardedreposeofmannerandeaseandgraceofdemeanour,wouldmoresurelyquietthegeneralpulse—incaseanyevilrumourshadgoneabout—thananyotherschemethatcouldbedevised.
ThentheEarlproceeded,verydelicately,toinstructTomastotheobservancespropertothestatelyoccasion,undertheratherthindisguiseof‘reminding’himconcerningthingsalreadyknowntohim;buttohisvastgratificationitturnedoutthatTomneededverylittlehelpinthisline—hehadbeenmakinguseofHumphreyinthatdirection,forHumphreyhadmentionedthatwithinafewdayshewastobegintodineinpublic;havinggathereditfromtheswift-wingedgossipoftheCourt.Tomkeptthesefactstohimself,however.
Seeingtheroyalmemorysoimproved,theEarlventuredtoapplyafewteststoit,inanapparentlycasualway,tofindouthowfaritsamendmenthadprogressed.Theresultswerehappy,hereandthere,inspots—spotswhereHumphrey’stracksremained—andonthewholemylordwasgreatlypleasedandencouraged
