Принц и нищий
Le Roi est mort — vive le Roi
AtthispointheturnedandwhisperedtoLordHertford—
"Whatdaydidhesaytheburialhathbeenappointedfor?"
"Thesixteenthofthecomingmonth,myliege."
"‘Tisastrangefolly.Willhekeep?"
Poorchap,hewasstillnewtothecustomsofroyalty;hewasusedtoseeingtheforlorndeadofOffalCourthustledoutofthewaywithaverydifferentsortofexpedition.However,theLordHertfordsethismindatrestwithawordortwo.
AsecretaryofstatepresentedanorderoftheCouncilappointingthemorrowatelevenforthereceptionoftheforeignambassadors,anddesiredtheKing’sassent.
TomturnedaninquiringlooktowardHertford,whowhispered—
"YourMajestywillsignifyconsent.Theycometotestifytheirroyalmasters’senseoftheheavycalamitywhichhathvisitedyourGraceandtherealmofEngland."
Tomdidashewasbidden.AnothersecretarybegantoreadapreambleconcerningtheexpensesofthelateKing’shousehold,whichhadamountedto28,000poundsduringtheprecedingsixmonths—asumsovastthatitmadeTomCantygasp;hegaspedagainwhenthefactappearedthat20,000poundsofthismoneywasstillowingandunpaid;andoncemorewhenitappearedthattheKing’scofferswereaboutempty,andhistwelvehundredservantsmuchembarrassedforlackofthewagesduethem.Tomspokeout,withlivelyapprehension—
"Webegoingtothedogs,‘tisplain.
