Принц і жебрак
The Prince and his Deliverer
"Nowmarkye,"continuedHendon,"Itookthisladundermyprotectionwhenamobofsuchasthouwouldhavemishandledhim,mayhapkilledhim;dostimagineIwilldeserthimnowtoaworserfate?—forwhetherthouarthisfatherorno—andsoothtosay,Ithinkitisalie—adecentswiftdeathwerebetterforsuchaladthanlifeinsuchbrutehandsasthine.Sogothyways,andsetquickaboutit,forIlikenotmuchbandyingofwords,beingnotover-patientinmynature."
JohnCantymovedoff,mutteringthreatsandcurses,andwasswallowedfromsightinthecrowd.Hendonascendedthreeflightsofstairstohisroom,withhischarge,afterorderingamealtobesentthither.Itwasapoorapartment,withashabbybedandsomeoddsandendsofoldfurnitureinit,andwasvaguelylightedbyacoupleofsicklycandles.ThelittleKingdraggedhimselftothebedandlaydownuponit,almostexhaustedwithhungerandfatigue.Hehadbeenonhisfeetagoodpartofadayandanight(foritwasnowtwoorthreeo’clockinthemorning),andhadeatennothingmeantime.Hemurmureddrowsily—
"Pritheecallmewhenthetableisspread,"andsankintoadeepsleepimmediately.
AsmiletwinkledinHendon’seye,andhesaidtohimself—
"Bythemass,thelittlebeggartakestoone’squartersandusurpsone’sbedwithasnaturalandeasyagraceasifheownedthem—withneveraby-your-leaveorso-please-it-you,oranythingofthesort.InhisdiseasedravingshecalledhimselfthePrinceofWales,andbravelydothhekeepupthecharacter.
