Принц і жебрак
The Escape
"Idobegintobelievethee,"saidHendon,withaperplexingmixtureofmockeryandhalf-convictioninhistone;"buttarrythouhereamomentwhilstIrunandaskhisworship—fornathless,hebeingamanexperiencedinlaw,injests,in—"
Hewasmovingaway,stilltalking;theconstablehesitated,fidgeted,spatoutanoathortwo,thencriedout—
"Hold,hold,goodsir—pritheewaitalittle—thejudge!Why,man,hehathnomoresympathywithajestthanhathadeadcorpse!—come,andwewillspeakfurther.Odsbody!Iseemtobeinevilcase—andallforaninnocentandthoughtlesspleasantry.Iamamanoffamily;andmywifeandlittleones—Listtoreason,goodyourworship:whatwouldstthouofme?"
"Onlythatthoubeblindanddumbandparalyticwhilstonemaycountahundredthousand—countingslowly,"saidHendon,withtheexpressionofamanwhoasksbutareasonablefavour,andthataverylittleone.
"Itismydestruction!"saidtheconstabledespairingly."Ah,bereasonable,goodsir;onlylookatthismatter,onallitssides,andseehowmereajestitis—howmanifestlyandhowplainlyitisso.Andevenifonegranteditwerenotajest,itisafaultsosmallthate’enthegrimmestpenaltyitcouldcallforthwouldbebutarebukeandwarningfromthejudge’slips."
Hendonrepliedwithasolemnitywhichchilledtheairabouthim—
"Thisjestofthinehathaname,inlaw,—wotyouwhatitis?"
"Iknewitnot!PeradventureIhavebeenunwise
