Принц і жебрак
Edward as King
Hendonretiredtotheplaceindicated—itwasarecesssunkinthepalacewall,withastonebenchinit—ashelterforsentinelsinbadweather.Hehadhardlyseatedhimselfwhensomehalberdiers,inchargeofanofficer,passedby.Theofficersawhim,haltedhismen,andcommandedHendontocomeforth.Heobeyed,andwaspromptlyarrestedasasuspiciouscharacterprowlingwithintheprecinctsofthepalace.Thingsbegantolookugly.PoorMileswasgoingtoexplain,buttheofficerroughlysilencedhim,andorderedhismentodisarmhimandsearchhim.
"Godofhismercygrantthattheyfindsomewhat,"saidpoorMiles;"Ihavesearchedenow,andfailed,yetismyneedgreaterthantheirs."
Nothingwasfoundbutadocument.Theofficertoreitopen,andHendonsmiledwhenherecognisedthe‘pot-hooks’madebyhislostlittlefriendthatblackdayatHendonHall.Theofficer’sfacegrewdarkashereadtheEnglishparagraph,andMilesblenchedtotheoppositecolourashelistened.
"AnothernewclaimantoftheCrown!"criedtheofficer."Verilytheybreedlikerabbits,to-day.Seizetherascal,men,andseeyekeephimfastwhilstIconveythispreciouspaperwithinandsendittotheKing."
Hehurriedaway,leavingtheprisonerinthegripofthehalberdiers.
"Nowismyevilluckendedatlast,"mutteredHendon,"forIshalldangleatarope’sendforacertainty,byreasonofthatbitofwriting.Andwhatwillbecomeofmypoorlad!—ah,onlythegoodGodknoweth."
