The Prince and the Pauper / Принц и нищий. Книга для чтения на английском языке

) разбираться станут потом]? He had heard that the great were prompt about small matters. His fear rose higher and higher; and trembling he softly opened the door to the antechamber, resolved to fly and seek the prince, and, through him, protection and release. Six gorgeous gentlemen-servants and two young pages of high degree, clothed like butterflies, sprang to their feet and bowed low before him. He stepped quickly back and shut the door. He said —

“Oh, they mock at me! They will go and tell.

Oh! why came I here to cast away my life?”

He walked up and down the floor, filled with nameless fears, listening, starting at every trifling sound. Presently the door swung open, and a silken page said —

“The Lady Jane Grey.”

The door closed and a sweet young girl, richly clad, bounded toward him. But she stopped suddenly, and said in a distressed voice —

“Oh, what aileth thee[31 - what aileth thee – (уст.) что тебя печалит], my lord?”

Tom’s breath was nearly failing him; but he made shift to stammer out —

“Ah, be merciful, thou! In sooth I am no lord, but only poor Tom Canty of Offal Court in the city.

Prithee let me see the prince, and he will of his grace restore to me my rags, and let me hence unhurt. Oh, be thou merciful, and save me!”

By this time the boy was on his knees, and supplicating with his eyes and uplifted hands as well as with his tongue. The young girl seemed horror-stricken. She cried out —

“O my lord, on thy knees? – and to me!”

Then she fled away in fright; and Tom, smitten with despair, sank down, murmuring —

“There is no help, there is no hope.

Now will they come and take me.”

Whilst he lay there benumbed with terror, dreadful tidings were speeding through the palace. The whisper – for it was whispered always – flew from menial to menial, from lord to lady, down all the long corridors, from story to story, from saloon to saloon, “The prince hath gone mad, the prince hath gone mad!” Soon every saloon, every marble hall, had its groups of glittering lords and ladies, and other groups of dazzling lesser folk, talking earnestly together in whispers, and every face had in it dismay.

Presently a splendid official came marching by these groups, making solemn proclamation —

“IN THE NAME OF THE KING!

Let none list to this false and foolish matter, upon pain of death, nor discuss the same, nor carry it abroad.