Принц і жебрак
Disowned
Thesurpriseofit,thebewilderingunexpectednessofit,madehimbegintoquestion,foramoment,ifhewasthepersonhewaspretendingtobe,afterall.TheLadyEdithsaid—
"Sir,Ihavecometowarnyou.Themadcannotbepersuadedoutoftheirdelusions,perchance;butdoubtlesstheymaybepersuadedtoavoidperils.Ithinkthisdreamofyourshaththeseemingofhonesttruthtoyou,andthereforeisnotcriminal—butdonottarryherewithit;forhereitisdangerous."ShelookedsteadilyintoMiles’sfaceamoment,thenadded,impressively,"Itisthemoredangerousforthatyouaremuchlikewhatourlostladmusthavegrowntobeifhehadlived."
"Heavens,madam,butIamhe!"
"Itrulythinkyouthinkit,sir.Iquestionnotyourhonestyinthat;Ibutwarnyou,thatisall.Myhusbandismasterinthisregion;hispowerhathhardlyanylimit;thepeopleprosperorstarve,ashewills.Ifyouresemblednotthemanwhomyouprofesstobe,myhusbandmightbidyoupleasureyourselfwithyourdreaminpeace;buttrustme,Iknowhimwell;Iknowwhathewilldo;hewillsaytoallthatyouarebutamadimpostor,andstraightwayallwillechohim."ShebentuponMilesthatsamesteadylookoncemore,andadded:"IfyouwereMilesHendon,andheknewitandalltheregionknewit—considerwhatIamsaying,weighitwell—youwouldstandinthesameperil,yourpunishmentwouldbenolesssure;hewoulddenyyouanddenounceyou,andnonewouldbeboldenoughtogiveyoucountenance."
