Принц і жебрак
The Prince a prisoner
Thejusticeproceededtowriteinhisrecordbook.Hendon,alwaysalert,thoughthewouldliketoknowwhytheofficerfollowedthewomanout;soheslippedsoftlyintotheduskyhallandlistened.Heheardaconversationtothiseffect—
"Itisafatpig,andpromisesgoodeating;Iwillbuyitofthee;hereistheeightpence."
"Eightpence,indeed!Thou’ltdonosuchthing.Itcostmethreeshillingsandeightpence,goodhonestcoinofthelastreign,thatoldHarrythat’sjustdeadne’ertouchedortamperedwith.Afigforthyeightpence!"
"Standsthewindinthatquarter?Thouwastunderoath,andsosworefalselywhenthousaidstthevaluewasbuteightpence.Comestraightwaybackwithmebeforehisworship,andanswerforthecrime!—andthentheladwillhang."
"There,there,dearheart,saynomore,Iamcontent.Givemetheeightpence,andholdthypeaceaboutthematter."
Thewomanwentoffcrying:Hendonslippedbackintothecourtroom,andtheconstablepresentlyfollowed,afterhidinghisprizeinsomeconvenientplace.Thejusticewroteawhilelonger,thenreadtheKingawiseandkindlylecture,andsentencedhimtoashortimprisonmentinthecommonjail,tobefollowedbyapublicflogging.TheastoundedKingopenedhismouth,andwasprobablygoingtoorderthegoodjudgetobebeheadedonthespot;buthecaughtawarningsignfromHendon,andsucceededinclosinghismouthagainbeforehelostanythingoutofit
