Принц і жебрак
Coronation Day
Butatlastheheavedasigh,shookhisheadslowly,andsaid,withatremblinglipandinadespondentvoice—
"Icallthesceneback—allofit—buttheSealhathnoplaceinit."Hepaused,thenlookedup,andsaidwithgentledignity,"Mylordsandgentlemen,ifyewillrobyourrightfulsovereignofhisownforlackofthisevidencewhichheisnotabletofurnish,Imaynotstayye,beingpowerless.But—"
"Oh,folly,oh,madness,myKing!"criedTomCanty,inapanic,"wait!—think!Donotgiveup!—thecauseisnotlost!Norshallbe,neither!ListtowhatIsay—followeveryword—Iamgoingtobringthatmorningbackagain,everyhapjustasithappened.Wetalked—Itoldyouofmysisters,NanandBet—ah,yes,yourememberthat;andaboutmineoldgrandam—andtheroughgamesoftheladsofOffalCourt—yes,yourememberthesethingsalso;verywell,followmestill,youshallrecalleverything.Yougavemefoodanddrink,anddidwithprincelycourtesysendawaytheservants,sothatmylowbreedingmightnotshamemebeforethem—ah,yes,thisalsoyouremember."
AsTomcheckedoffhisdetails,andtheotherboynoddedhisheadinrecognitionofthem,thegreataudienceandtheofficialsstaredinpuzzledwonderment;thetalesoundedliketruehistory,yethowcouldthisimpossibleconjunctionbetweenaprinceandabeggar-boyhavecomeabout?Neverwasacompanyofpeoplesoperplexed,sointerested,andsostupefied,before.
"Forajest,myprince,wedidexchangegarments.
