Принц і жебрак

           "MosttrulyIbelieveit,"saidMiles,bitterly."Thepowerthatcancommandonelife-longfriendtobetrayanddisownanother,andbeobeyed,maywelllooktobeobeyedinquarterswherebreadandlifeareonthestakeandnocobwebtiesofloyaltyandhonourareconcerned."

           Afainttingeappearedforamomentinthelady’scheek,andshedroppedhereyestothefloor;buthervoicebetrayednoemotionwhensheproceeded—

           "Ihavewarnedyou—Imuststillwarnyou—togohence.Thismanwilldestroyyou,else.Heisatyrantwhoknowsnopity.I,whoamhisfetteredslave,knowthis.PoorMiles,andArthur,andmydearguardian,SirRichard,arefreeofhim,andatrest:betterthatyouwerewiththemthanthatyoubidehereintheclutchesofthismiscreant.Yourpretensionsareamenacetohistitleandpossessions;youhaveassaultedhiminhisownhouse:youareruinedifyoustay.Go—donothesitate.Ifyoulackmoney,takethispurse,Ibegofyou,andbribetheservantstoletyoupass.Oh,bewarned,poorsoul,andescapewhileyoumay."

           Milesdeclinedthepursewithagesture,androseupandstoodbeforeher.

           "Grantmeonething,"hesaid."Letyoureyesrestuponmine,sothatImayseeiftheybesteady.There—nowanswerme.AmIMilesHendon?"

           "No.Iknowyounot."

           "Swearit!"

           Theanswerwaslow,butdistinct—

           "Iswear."

           "Oh,thispassesbelief!"

           "Fly!Whywillyouwastetheprecioustime?Fly,andsaveyourself."