Принц і жебрак

           Agrace,agrace,mylordtheKing!inthyroyalcompassiongrantmyprayer—givecommandmentthatIbehanged!"

           Tomwasamazed.Thiswasnottheoutcomehehadlookedfor.

           "Oddsmylife,astrangeboon!Wasitnotthefateintendedthee?"

           "Ogoodmyliege,notso!ItisorderedthatIbeboiledalive!"

           ThehideoussurpriseofthesewordsalmostmadeTomspringfromhischair.Assoonashecouldrecoverhiswitshecriedout—

           "Havethywish,poorsoul!an’thouhadpoisonedahundredmenthoushouldstnotsuffersomiserableadeath."

           Theprisonerbowedhisfacetothegroundandburstintopassionateexpressionsofgratitude—endingwith—

           "Ifeverthoushouldstknowmisfortune—whichGodforefend!—maythygoodnesstomethisdayberememberedandrequited!"

           TomturnedtotheEarlofHertford,andsaid—

           "Mylord,isitbelievablethattherewaswarrantforthisman’sferociousdoom?"

           "Itisthelaw,yourGrace—forpoisoners.InGermanycoinersbeboiledtodeathinoil—notcastinofasudden,butbyaropeletdownintotheoilbydegrees,andslowly;firstthefeet,thenthelegs,then—"

           "Opritheenomore,mylord,Icannotbearit!"criedTom,coveringhiseyeswithhishandstoshutoutthepicture."Ibeseechyourgoodlordshipthatorderbetakentochangethislaw—oh,letnomorepoorcreaturesbevisitedwithitstortures."

           TheEarl’sfaceshowedprofoundgratification,forhewasamanofmercifulandgenerousimpulses—athingnotverycommonwithhisclassinthatfierceage.