Принц і жебрак

           Buthehathnotescapedthefires!No,hehathnotescapedthefires,theconsuming,unpitying,remorselessfires—andtheyareeverlasting!"

           Andsohewrought,andstillwrought—mumbling,chucklingalowraspingchuckleattimes—andattimesbreakingagainintowords—

           "Itwashisfatherthatdiditall.Iambutanarchangel;butforhimIshouldbepope!"

           TheKingstirred.Thehermitsprangnoiselesslytothebedside,andwentdownuponhisknees,bendingovertheprostrateformwithhisknifeuplifted.Theboystirredagain;hiseyescameopenforaninstant,buttherewasnospeculationinthem,theysawnothing;thenextmomenthistranquilbreathingshowedthathissleepwassoundoncemore.

           Thehermitwatchedandlistened,foratime,keepinghispositionandscarcelybreathing;thenheslowlyloweredhisarms,andpresentlycreptaway,saying,—

           "Itislongpastmidnight;itisnotbestthatheshouldcryout,lestbyaccidentsomeonebepassing."

           Heglidedabouthishovel,gatheringaraghere,athongthere,andanotheroneyonder;thenhereturned,andbycarefulandgentlehandlinghemanagedtotietheKing’sanklestogetherwithoutwakinghim.Nextheessayedtotiethewrists;hemadeseveralattemptstocrossthem,buttheboyalwaysdrewonehandortheotheraway,justasthecordwasreadytobeapplied;butatlast,whenthearchangelwasalmostreadytodespair,theboycrossedhishandshimself,andthenextmomenttheywerebound