Принц и нищий
To London
Aboutteno’clockonthenightofthe19thofFebruarytheysteppeduponLondonBridge,inthemidstofawrithing,strugglingjamofhowlingandhurrahingpeople,whosebeer-jollyfacesstoodoutstronglyintheglarefrommanifoldtorches—andatthatinstantthedecayingheadofsomeformerdukeorothergrandeetumbleddownbetweenthem,strikingHendonontheelbowandthenboundingoffamongthehurryingconfusionoffeet.Soevanescentandunstablearemen’sworksinthisworld!—thelategoodKingisbutthreeweeksdeadandthreedaysinhisgrave,andalreadytheadornmentswhichhetooksuchpainstoselectfromprominentpeopleforhisnoblebridgearefalling.Acitizenstumbledoverthathead,anddrovehisownheadintothebackofsomebodyinfrontofhim,whoturnedandknockeddownthefirstpersonthatcamehandy,andwaspromptlylaidouthimselfbythatperson’sfriend.Itwastherightripetimeforafreefight,forthefestivitiesofthemorrow—CoronationDay—werealreadybeginning;everybodywasfullofstrongdrinkandpatriotism;withinfiveminutesthefreefightwasoccupyingagooddealofground;withintenortwelveitcoveredanacreofso,andwasbecomeariot.BythistimeHendonandtheKingwerehopelesslyseparatedfromeachotherandlostintherushandturmoiloftheroaringmassesofhumanity.Andsoweleavethem.
