Tom receives instructions

           Tomwasconductedtotheprincipalapartmentofanoblesuite,andmadetositdown—athingwhichhewaslothtodo,sincetherewereelderlymenandmenofhighdegreeabouthim.Hebeggedthemtobeseatedalso,buttheyonlybowedtheirthanksormurmuredthem,andremainedstanding.Hewouldhaveinsisted,buthis‘uncle’theEarlofHertfordwhisperedinhisear—

           "Prithee,insistnot,mylord;itisnotmeetthattheysitinthypresence."

           TheLordSt.Johnwasannounced,andaftermakingobeisancetoTom,hesaid—

           "IcomeupontheKing’serrand,concerningamatterwhichrequirethprivacy.Willitpleaseyourroyalhighnesstodismissallthatattendyouhere,savemylordtheEarlofHertford?"

           ObservingthatTomdidnotseemtoknowhowtoproceed,Hertfordwhisperedhimtomakeasignwithhishand,andnottroublehimselftospeakunlesshechose.Whenthewaitinggentlemenhadretired,LordSt.Johnsaid—

           "Hismajestycommandeth,thatfordueandweightyreasonsofstate,theprince’sgraceshallhidehisinfirmityinallwaysthatbewithinhispower,tillitbepassedandhebeashewasbefore.Towit,thatheshalldenytononethatheisthetrueprince,andheirtoEngland’sgreatness;thatheshallupholdhisprincelydignity,andshallreceive,withoutwordorsignofprotest,thatreverenceandobservancewhichuntoitdoappertainofrightandancientusage;thatheshallceasetospeaktoanyofthatlowlybirthandlifehismaladyhathconjuredoutoftheunwholesomeimaginingsofo’er-wroughtfancy;