Принц і жебрак

           Hewentstealthilyabouttheplace,seekinghereandthereforsomething;nowandthenhaltingtolisten,nowandthenjerkinghisheadaroundandcastingaquickglancetowardthebed;andalwaysmuttering,alwaysmumblingtohimself.Atlasthefoundwhatheseemedtowant—arustyoldbutcherknifeandawhetstone.Thenhecrepttohisplacebythefire,sathimselfdown,andbegantowhettheknifesoftlyonthestone,stillmuttering,mumbling,ejaculating.Thewindssighedaroundthelonelyplace,themysteriousvoicesofthenightfloatedbyoutofthedistances.Theshiningeyesofventuresomemiceandratspeeredoutattheoldmanfromcracksandcoverts,buthewentonwithhiswork,rapt,absorbed,andnotednoneofthesethings.

           Atlongintervalshedrewhisthumbalongtheedgeofhisknife,andnoddedhisheadwithsatisfaction."Itgrowssharper,"hesaid;"yes,itgrowssharper."

           Hetooknonoteoftheflightoftime,butworkedtranquillyon,entertaininghimselfwithhisthoughts,whichbrokeoutoccasionallyinarticulatespeech—

           "Hisfatherwroughtusevil,hedestroyedus—andisgonedownintotheeternalfires!Yes,downintotheeternalfires!Heescapedus—butitwasGod’swill,yesitwasGod’swill,wemustnotrepine.