Принц и нищий
Hendon to the rescue
Immediatelycameasuccessionofthunderingknocksuponthecabindoor,followedby—
"Hullo-o-o!Open!Anddespatch,inthenameofallthedevils!"
Oh,thiswastheblessedestsoundthathadevermademusicintheKing’sears;foritwasMilesHendon’svoice!
Thehermit,grindinghisteethinimpotentrage,movedswiftlyoutofthebedchamber,closingthedoorbehindhim;andstraightwaytheKingheardatalk,tothiseffect,proceedingfromthe‘chapel’:—
"Homageandgreeting,reverendsir!Whereistheboy—myboy?"
"Whatboy,friend?"
"Whatboy!Liemenolies,sirpriest,playmenodeceptions!—Iamnotinthehumourforit.NeartothisplaceIcaughtthescoundrelswhoIjudgeddidstealhimfromme,andImadethemconfess;theysaidhewasatlargeagain,andtheyhadtrackedhimtoyourdoor.Theyshowedmehisveryfootprints.Nowpalternomore;forlookyou,holysir,an’thouproducehimnot—Whereistheboy?"
"Ogoodsir,peradventureyoumeantheraggedregalvagrantthattarriedherethenight.Ifsuchasyoutakeaninterestinsuchashe,know,then,thatIhavesenthimofanerrand.Hewillbebackanon."
"Howsoon?Howsoon?Come,wastenotthetime—cannotIovertakehim?Howsoonwillhebeback?"
"Thouneed’stnotstir;hewillreturnquickly."
"Sobeit,then.Iwilltrytowait.Butstop!—yousenthimofanerrand?—you!Verilythisisalie—hewouldnotgo.Hewouldpullthyoldbeard,an’thoudidstofferhimsuchaninsolence.
