Принц і жебрак
The Prince with the Tramps
Hestumbledalong,throughthegruesomefascinationsofthisnewexperience,startledoccasionallybythesoftrustlingofthedryleavesoverhead,solikehumanwhisperstheyseemedtosound;andby-and-byhecamesuddenlyuponthefreckledlightofatinlanternnearathand.Hesteppedbackintotheshadowsandwaited.Thelanternstoodbytheopendoorofabarn.TheKingwaitedsometime—therewasnosound,andnobodystirring.Hegotsocold,standingstill,andthehospitablebarnlookedsoenticing,thatatlastheresolvedtoriskeverythingandenter.Hestartedswiftlyandstealthily,andjustashewascrossingthethresholdheheardvoicesbehindhim.Hedartedbehindacask,withinthebarn,andstoopeddown.Twofarm-labourerscamein,bringingthelanternwiththem,andfelltowork,talkingmeanwhile.Whilsttheymovedaboutwiththelight,theKingmadegooduseofhiseyesandtookthebearingsofwhatseemedtobeagood-sizedstallatthefurtherendoftheplace,purposingtogropehiswaytoitwhenheshouldbelefttohimself.Healsonotedthepositionofapileofhorseblankets,midwayoftheroute,withtheintenttolevyuponthemfortheserviceofthecrownofEnglandforonenight.
By-and-bythemenfinishedandwentaway,fasteningthedoorbehindthemandtakingthelanternwiththem.TheshiveringKingmadefortheblankets,withasgoodspeedasthedarknesswouldallow;gatheredthemup,andthengropedhiswaysafelytothestall.Oftwooftheblanketshemadeabed,thencoveredhimselfwiththeremainingtwo.
