Принц і жебрак
The State Dinner
Nowlettheancientchroniclerspeak:
"Agentlemanenterstheroombearingarod,andalongwithhimanotherbearingatablecloth,which,aftertheyhavebothkneeledthreetimeswiththeutmostveneration,hespreadsuponthetable,andafterkneelingagaintheybothretire;thencometwoothers,onewiththerodagain,theotherwithasalt-cellar,aplate,andbread;whentheyhavekneeledastheothershaddone,andplacedwhatwasbroughtuponthetable,theytooretirewiththesameceremoniesperformedbythefirst;atlastcometwonobles,richlyclothed,onebearingatasting-knife,who,afterprostratingthemselvesthreetimesinthemostgracefulmanner,approachandrubthetablewithbreadandsalt,withasmuchaweasiftheKinghadbeenpresent."
Soendthesolemnpreliminaries.Now,fardowntheechoingcorridorswehearabugle-blast,andtheindistinctcry,"PlacefortheKing!WayfortheKing’smostexcellentmajesty!"Thesesoundsaremomentlyrepeated—theygrownearerandnearer—andpresently,almostinourfaces,themartialnotepealsandthecryringsout,"WayfortheKing!"Atthisinstanttheshiningpageantappears,andfilesinatthedoor,withameasuredmarch.
