Принц і жебрак
Tom as King
Still,hewasnotgoingtodenyhimselfthepleasureoffeedinghiscuriosityforallthat;soheasked—
"Wherewasthisdone?—andwhen?"
"OnamidnightinDecember,inaruinedchurch,yourMajesty."
Tomshudderedagain.
"Whowastherepresent?"
"Onlythesetwo,yourgrace—andthatother."
"Havetheseconfessed?"
"Nay,notso,sire—theydodenyit."
"Thenprithee,howwasitknown?"
"Certainwitnessdidseethemwendingthither,goodyourMajesty;thisbredthesuspicion,anddireeffectshavesinceconfirmedandjustifiedit.Inparticular,itisinevidencethatthroughthewickedpowersoobtained,theydidinvokeandbringaboutastormthatwastedalltheregionroundabout.Abovefortywitnesseshaveprovedthestorm;andsoothonemighthavehadathousand,forallhadreasontorememberit,sithallhadsufferedbyit."
"Certesthisisaseriousmatter."Tomturnedthisdarkpieceofscoundrelismoverinhismindawhile,thenasked—
"Sufferedthewomanalsobythestorm?"
Severaloldheadsamongtheassemblagenoddedtheirrecognitionofthewisdomofthisquestion.Thesheriff,however,sawnothingconsequentialintheinquiry;heanswered,withsimpledirectness—
"Indeeddidshe,yourMajesty,andmostrighteously,asallaver.Herhabitationwassweptaway,andherselfandchildleftshelterless."
"Methinksthepowertodoherselfsoillaturnwasdearlybought.
