Принц і жебрак

           "Thywife!"InaninstantHughwaspinnedtothewall,withanirongripabouthisthroat."Oh,thoufox-heartedslave,Iseeitall!Thou’stwritthelyingletterthyself,andmystolenbrideandgoodsareitsfruit.There—nowgettheegone,lestIshameminehonourablesoldiershipwiththeslayingofsopitifulamannikin!"

           Hugh,red-faced,andalmostsuffocated,reeledtothenearestchair,andcommandedtheservantstoseizeandbindthemurderousstranger.Theyhesitated,andoneofthemsaid—

           "Heisarmed,SirHugh,andweareweaponless."

           "Armed!Whatofit,andyesomany?Uponhim,Isay!"

           ButMileswarnedthemtobecarefulwhattheydid,andadded—

           "Yeknowmeofold—Ihavenotchanged;comeon,an’itlikeyou."

           Thisreminderdidnotheartentheservantsmuch;theystillheldback.

           "Thengo,yepaltrycowards,andarmyourselvesandguardthedoors,whilstIsendonetofetchthewatch!"saidHugh.Heturnedatthethreshold,andsaidtoMiles,"You’llfindittoyouradvantagetooffendnotwithuselessendeavoursatescape."

           "Escape?Sparethyselfdiscomfort,an’thatisallthattroublesthee.ForMilesHendonismasterofHendonHallandallitsbelongings.Hewillremain—doubtitnot."