Принц і жебрак
Foo-foo the First
Theyouthenteredthebarn,theKingfollowingeagerlyuponhisheels.Noonethere!TheKingshotasurprisedandsuspiciousglanceattheyouth,andasked—
"Whereishe?"
Amockinglaughwashisanswer.TheKingwasinarageinamoment;heseizedabilletofwoodandwasintheactofchargingupontheyouthwhenanothermockinglaughfelluponhisear.Itwasfromthelameruffianwhohadbeenfollowingatadistance.TheKingturnedandsaidangrily—
"Whoartthou?Whatisthybusinesshere?"
"Leavethyfoolery,"saidtheman,"andquietthyself.Mydisguiseisnonesogoodthatthoucanstpretendthouknowestnotthyfatherthroughit."
"Thouartnotmyfather.Iknowtheenot.IamtheKing.Ifthouhasthidmyservant,findhimforme,orthoushaltsupsorrowforwhatthouhastdone."
JohnCantyreplied,inasternandmeasuredvoice—
"Itisplainthouartmad,andIamloathtopunishthee;butifthouprovokeme,Imust.Thypratingdothnoharmhere,wheretherearenoearsthatneedtomindthyfollies;yetitiswelltopractisethytonguetowaryspeech,thatitmaydonohurtwhenourquarterschange.Ihavedoneamurder,andmaynottarryathome—neithershaltthou,seeingIneedthyservice.Mynameischanged,forwisereasons;itisHobbs—JohnHobbs;thineisJack—chargethymemoryaccordingly.Now,then,speak.Whereisthymother?Wherearethysisters?Theycamenottotheplaceappointed—knowestthouwhithertheywent?"
TheKingansweredsullenly—
"Troublemenotwiththeseriddles.
