Принц и нищий

           SoatlastTomCanty,inhisroyalrobesandjewels,stoodwhollyaloneandisolatedfromtheworld,aconspicuousfigure,occupyinganeloquentvacancy.

           NowtheLordSt.Johnwasseenreturning.Asheadvancedupthemid-aisletheinterestwassointensethatthelowmurmurofconversationinthegreatassemblagediedoutandwassucceededbyaprofoundhush,abreathlessstillness,throughwhichhisfootfallspulsedwithadullanddistantsound.Everyeyewasfasteneduponhimashemovedalong.Hereachedtheplatform,pausedamoment,thenmovedtowardTomCantywithadeepobeisance,andsaid—

           "Sire,theSealisnotthere!"

           Amobdoesnotmeltawayfromthepresenceofaplague-patientwithmorehastethanthebandofpallidandterrifiedcourtiersmeltedawayfromthepresenceoftheshabbylittleclaimantoftheCrown.Inamomenthestoodallalone,withoutfriendorsupporter,atargetuponwhichwasconcentratedabitterfireofscornfulandangrylooks.TheLordProtectorcalledoutfiercely—

           "Castthebeggarintothestreet,andscourgehimthroughthetown—thepaltryknaveisworthnomoreconsideration!"

           Officersoftheguardsprangforwardtoobey,butTomCantywavedthemoffandsaid—

           "Back!Whosotoucheshimperilshislife!"

           TheLordProtectorwasperplexedinthelastdegree.HesaidtotheLordSt.John—

           "Searchedyouwell?—butitbootsnottoaskthat.Itdothseempassingstrange.