Принц и нищий
The Prince and his Deliverer
Myfatherisabaronet—oneofthesmallerlordsbyknightservice—SirRichardHendonofHendonHall,byMonk’sHolminKent."
"Thenamehasescapedmymemory.Goon—tellmethystory."
"‘Tisnotmuch,yourMajesty,yetperchanceitmaybeguileashorthalf-hourforwantofabetter.Myfather,SirRichard,isveryrich,andofamostgenerousnature.MymotherdiedwhilstIwasyetaboy.Ihavetwobrothers:Arthur,myelder,withasoulliketohisfather’s;andHugh,youngerthanI,ameanspirit,covetous,treacherous,vicious,underhanded—areptile.Suchwashefromthecradle;suchwashetenyearspast,whenIlastsawhim—ariperascalatnineteen,Ibeingtwentythen,andArthurtwenty-two.ThereisnoneotherofusbuttheLadyEdith,mycousin—shewassixteenthen—beautiful,gentle,good,thedaughterofanearl,thelastofherrace,heiressofagreatfortuneandalapsedtitle.Myfatherwasherguardian.Ilovedherandshelovedme;butshewasbetrothedtoArthurfromthecradle,andSirRichardwouldnotsufferthecontracttobebroken.Arthurlovedanothermaid,andbadeusbeofgoodcheerandholdfasttothehopethatdelayandlucktogetherwouldsomedaygivesuccesstoourseveralcauses.HughlovedtheLadyEdith’sfortune,thoughintruthhesaiditwasherselfheloved—butthen‘twashisway,alway,tosaytheonethingandmeantheother.Buthelosthisartsuponthegirl;hecoulddeceivemyfather,butnoneelse.
