Принц и нищий
Tom as King
ButTomwashardlyconsciousofthepresenceofthesepeople,sowroughtupwasheandsointenselyabsorbedinthatotherandmoreinterestingmatter.Heseatedhimselfabsentlyinhischairofstate,andturnedhiseyesuponthedoorwithmanifestationsofimpatientexpectancy;seeingwhich,thecompanyforboretotroublehim,andfelltochattingamixtureofpublicbusinessandcourtgossiponewithanother.
Inalittlewhilethemeasuredtreadofmilitarymenwasheardapproaching,andtheculpritsenteredthepresenceinchargeofanunder-sheriffandescortedbyadetailoftheking’sguard.ThecivilofficerkneltbeforeTom,thenstoodaside;thethreedoomedpersonsknelt,also,andremainedso;theguardtookpositionbehindTom’schair.Tomscannedtheprisonerscuriously.Somethingaboutthedressorappearanceofthemanhadstirredavaguememoryinhim."MethinksIhaveseenthismanerenow...butthewhenorthewherefailme."—SuchwasTom’sthought.Justthenthemanglancedquicklyupandquicklydroppedhisfaceagain,notbeingabletoenduretheawfulportofsovereignty;buttheonefullglimpseofthefacewhichTomgotwassufficient.Hesaidtohimself:"Nowisthematterclear;thisisthestrangerthatpluckedGilesWittoutoftheThames,andsavedhislife,thatwindy,bitter,firstdayoftheNewYear—abravegooddeed—pityhehathbeendoingbaseronesandgothimselfinthissadcase...
