Принц и нищий
Edward as King
Hewasneartheriver,andinthecountry;itwasaregionoffineruralseats—notthesortofdistricttowelcomeclotheslikehis.
Itwasnotatallcold;sohestretchedhimselfonthegroundintheleeofahedgetorestandthink.Drowsinesspresentlybegantosettleuponhissenses;thefaintandfar-offboomofcannonwaswaftedtohisear,andhesaidtohimself,"ThenewKingiscrowned,"andstraightwayfellasleep.Hehadnotsleptorrested,before,formorethanthirtyhours.Hedidnotwakeagainuntilnearthemiddleofthenextmorning.
Hegotup,lame,stiff,andhalffamished,washedhimselfintheriver,stayedhisstomachwithapintortwoofwater,andtrudgedofftowardWestminster,grumblingathimselfforhavingwastedsomuchtime.Hungerhelpedhimtoanewplan,now;hewouldtrytogetspeechwitholdSirHumphreyMarlowandborrowafewmarks,and—butthatwasenoughofaplanforthepresent;itwouldbetimeenoughtoenlargeitwhenthisfirststageshouldbeaccomplished.
Towardeleveno’clockheapproachedthepalace;andalthoughahostofshowypeoplewereabouthim,movinginthesamedirection,hewasnotinconspicuous—hiscostumetookcareofthat.Hewatchedthesepeople’sfacesnarrowly,hopingtofindacharitableonewhosepossessormightbewillingtocarryhisnametotheoldlieutenant—astotryingtogetintothepalacehimself,thatwassimplyoutofthequestion.
