Принц і жебрак
Tom receives instructions
"Sopleaseyourhighness,itisforyoutocommand,itisforustoobey.Thatthoushould’strestisindeedaneedfulthing,sincethoumustjourneytothecitypresently."
Hetouchedabell,andapageappeared,whowasorderedtodesirethepresenceofSirWilliamHerbert.Thisgentlemancamestraightway,andconductedTomtoaninnerapartment.Tom’sfirstmovementtherewastoreachforacupofwater;butasilk-and-velvetservitorseizedit,droppedupononeknee,andofferedittohimonagoldensalver.
Nextthetiredcaptivesatdownandwasgoingtotakeoffhisbuskins,timidlyaskingleavewithhiseye,butanothersilk-and-velvetdiscomforterwentdownuponhiskneesandtooktheofficefromhim.Hemadetwoorthreefurthereffortstohelphimself,butbeingpromptlyforestalledeachtime,hefinallygaveup,withasighofresignationandamurmured"Beshrewme,butImarveltheydonotrequiretobreatheformealso!"Slippered,andwrappedinasumptuousrobe,helaidhimselfdownatlasttorest,butnottosleep,forhisheadwastoofullofthoughtsandtheroomtoofullofpeople.Hecouldnotdismisstheformer,sotheystayed;hedidnotknowenoughtodismissthelatter,sotheystayedalso,tohisvastregret—andtheirs.
Tom’sdeparturehadlefthistwonobleguardiansalone.Theymusedawhile,withmuchhead-shakingandwalkingthefloor,thenLordSt.Johnsaid—
"Plainly,whatdostthouthink?"
"Plainly,then,this.TheKingisnearhisend;mynephewismad—madwillmountthethrone,andmadremain.GodprotectEngland,sinceshewillneedit!"
"Verilyitpromisethso,indeed.But...haveyounomisgivingsasto...asto..."
