The Prince and the Pauper Page 6

  CHAPTER V. Tom as a Patrician.

  Tom Canty, left alone in the prince's cabinet, made good use of hisopportunity. ?He turned himself this way and that before the greatmirror, admiring his finery; then walked away, imitating the prince'shigh-bred carriage, and still observing results in the glass. ?Next hedrew the beautiful sword, and bowed, kissing the blade, and laying itacross his breast, as he had seen a noble knight do, by way of salute tothe lieutenant of the Tower, five or six weeks before, when deliveringthe great lords of Norfolk and Surrey into his hands for captivity. ?Tomplayed with the jewelled dagger that hung upon his thigh; he examinedthe costly and exquisite ornaments of the room; he tried each of thesumptuous chairs, and thought how proud he would be if the Offal Courtherd could only peep in and see him in his grandeur. ?He wondered ifthey would believe the marvellous tale he should tell when he got home,or if they would shake their heads, and say his overtaxed imaginationhad at last upset his reason.

  At the end of half an hour it suddenly occurred to him that the princewas gone a long time; then right away he began to feel lonely; verysoon he fell to listening and longing, and ceased to toy with thepretty things about him; he grew uneasy, then restless, then distressed.Suppose some one should come, and catch him in the prince's clothes, andthe prince not there to explain. ?Might they not hang him at once,and inquire into his case afterward? ?He had heard that the greatwere prompt about small matters. ?His fear rose higher and higher; andtrembling he softly opened the door to the antechamber, resolved tofly and seek the prince, and, through him, protection and release. ?Sixgorgeous gentlemen-servants and two young pages of high degree, clothedlike butterflies, sprang to their feet and bowed low before him. ?Hestepped quickly back and shut the door. ?He said--

  "Oh, they mock at me! ?They will go and tell. ?Oh! why came I here tocast 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 asilken 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, 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 Cantyof Offal Court in the city. ?Prithee let me see the prince, and he willof his grace restore to me my rags, and let me hence unhurt. ?Oh, bethou merciful, and save me!"

  By this time the boy was on his knees, and supplicating with his eyesand uplifted hands as well as with his tongue. ?The young girl seemedhorror-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 speedingthrough the palace. ?The whisper--for it was whispered always--flew frommenial to menial, from lord to lady, down all the long corridors, fromstory to story, from saloon to saloon, "The prince hath gone mad, theprince hath gone mad!" ?Soon every saloon, every marble hall, had itsgroups of glittering lords and ladies, and other groups of dazzlinglesser folk, talking earnestly together in whispers, and every facehad in it dismay. Presently a splendid official came marching by thesegroups, making solemn proclamation--

  "IN THE NAME OF THE KING!

  Let none list to this false and foolish matter, upon pain of death, nordiscuss the same, nor carry it abroad. ?In the name of the King!"

  The whisperings ceased as suddenly as if the whisperers had beenstricken dumb.

  Soon there was a general buzz along the corridors, of "The prince! See,the prince comes!"

  Poor Tom came slowly walking past the low-bowing groups, trying tobow in return, and meekly gazing upon his strange surroundings withbewildered and pathetic eyes. ?Great nobles walked upon each side ofhim, making him lean upon them, and so steady his steps. Behind himfollowed the court-physicians and some servants.

  Presently Tom found himself in a noble apartment of the palace and heardthe door close behind him. ?Around him stood those who had come withhim. Before him, at a little distance, reclined a very large and veryfat man, with a wide, pulpy face, and a stern expression. ?His largehead was very grey; and his whiskers, which he wore only around hisface, like a frame, were grey also. ?His clothing was of rich stuff,but old, and slightly frayed in places. ?One of his swollen legs had apillow under it, and was wrapped in bandages. ?There was silence now;and there was no head there but was bent in reverence, except thisman's. ?This stern-countenanced invalid was the dread Henry VIII. ?Hesaid--and his face grew gentle as he began to speak--

  "How now, my lord Edward, my prince? ?Hast been minded to cozen me, thegood King thy father, who loveth thee, and kindly useth thee, with asorry jest?"

  Poor Tom was listening, as well as his dazed faculties would let him,to the beginning of this speech; but when the words 'me, the good King'fell upon his ear, his face blanched, and he dropped as instantly uponhis knees as if a shot had brought him there. Lifting up his hands, heexclaimed--

  "Thou the _King_? ?Then am I undone indeed!"

  This speech seemed to stun the King. ?His eyes wandered from face toface aimlessly, then rested, bewildered, upon the boy before him. ?Thenhe said in a tone of deep disappointment--

  "Alack, I had believed the rumour disproportioned to the truth; but Ifear me 'tis not so." ?He breathed a heavy sigh, and said in a gentlevoice, "Come to thy father, child: ?thou art not well."

  Tom was assisted to his feet, and approached the Majesty of England,humble and trembling. ?The King took the frightened face between hishands, and gazed earnestly and lovingly into it awhile, as if seekingsome grateful sign of returning reason there, then pressed the curlyhead against his breast, and patted it tenderly. ?Presently he said--

  "Dost not know thy father, child? ?Break not mine old heart; say thouknow'st me. ?Thou _dost_ know me, dost thou not?"

  "Yea: ?thou art my dread lord the King, whom God preserve!"

  "True, true--that is well--be comforted, tremble not so; there is nonehere would hurt thee; there is none here but loves thee. Thou art betternow; thy ill dream passeth--is't not so? ?Thou wilt not miscall thyselfagain, as they say thou didst a little while agone?"

  "I pray thee of thy grace believe me, I did but speak the truth, mostdread lord; for I am the meanest among thy subjects, being a pauperborn, and 'tis by a sore mischance and accident I am here, albeit I wastherein nothing blameful. ?I am but young to die, and thou canst save mewith one little word. ?Oh speak it, sir!"

  "Die? ?Talk not so, sweet prince--peace, peace, to thy troubledheart--thou shalt not die!"

  Tom dropped upon his knees with a glad cry--

  "God requite thy mercy, O my King, and save thee long to bless thyland!" Then springing up, he turned a joyful face toward the two lordsin waiting, and exclaimed, "Thou heard'st it! ?I am not to die: ?theKing hath said it!" ?There was no movement, save that all bowed withgrave respect; but no one spoke. ?He hesitated, a little confused, thenturned timidly toward the King, saying, "I may go now?"

  "Go? ?Surely, if thou desirest. ?But why not tarry yet a little? Whitherwould'st go?"

  Tom dropped his eyes, and answered humbly--

  "Peradventure I mistook; but I did think me free, and so was I movedto seek again the kennel where I was born and bred to misery, yet whichharboureth my mother and my sisters, and so is home to me; whereas thesepomps and splendours whereunto I am not used--oh, please you, sir, tolet me go!"

  The King was silent and thoughtful a while, and his face betrayed agrowing distress and uneasiness. ?Presently he said, with something ofhope in his voice--

  "Perchance he is but mad upon this one strain, and hath his witsunmarred as toucheth other matter. ?God send it may be so! ?We will maketrial."

  Then
he asked Tom a question in Latin, and Tom answered him lamely inthe same tongue. ?The lords and doctors manifested their gratificationalso. The King said--

  "'Twas not according to his schooling and ability, but showeth that hismind is but diseased, not stricken fatally. ?How say you, sir?"

  The physician addressed bowed low, and replied--

  "It jumpeth with my own conviction, sire, that thou hast divinedaright."

  The King looked pleased with this encouragement, coming as it did fromso excellent authority, and continued with good heart--

  "Now mark ye all: ?we will try him further."

  He put a question to Tom in French. ?Tom stood silent a moment,embarrassed by having so many eyes centred upon him, then saiddiffidently--

  "I have no knowledge of this tongue, so please your majesty."

  The King fell back upon his couch. ?The attendants flew to hisassistance; but he put them aside, and said--

  "Trouble me not--it is nothing but a scurvy faintness. ?Raise me! There,'tis sufficient. ?Come hither, child; there, rest thy poor troubled headupon thy father's heart, and be at peace. ?Thou'lt soon be well: ?'tisbut a passing fantasy. ?Fear thou not; thou'lt soon be well." ?Thenhe turned toward the company: ?his gentle manner changed, and balefullightnings began to play from his eyes. ?He said--

  "List ye all! ?This my son is mad; but it is not permanent. ?Over-studyhath done this, and somewhat too much of confinement. ?Away with hisbooks and teachers! see ye to it. ?Pleasure him with sports, beguile himin wholesome ways, so that his health come again." ?He raised himselfhigher still, and went on with energy, "He is mad; but he is my son,and England's heir; and, mad or sane, still shall he reign! ?And hear yefurther, and proclaim it: whoso speaketh of this his distemper workethagainst the peace and order of these realms, and shall to the gallows!. . . Give me to drink--I burn: ?this sorrow sappeth my strength. . . .There, take away the cup. . . . Support me. ?There, that is well. ?Mad,is he? ?Were he a thousand times mad, yet is he Prince of Wales, and Ithe King will confirm it. ?This very morrow shall he be installed in hisprincely dignity in due and ancient form. ?Take instant order for it, mylord Hertford."

  One of the nobles knelt at the royal couch, and said--

  "The King's majesty knoweth that the Hereditary Great Marshal of Englandlieth attainted in the Tower. ?It were not meet that one attainted--"

  "Peace! ?Insult not mine ears with his hated name. ?Is this man tolive for ever? ?Am I to be baulked of my will? ?Is the prince to tarryuninstalled, because, forsooth, the realm lacketh an Earl Marshalfree of treasonable taint to invest him with his honours? No, by thesplendour of God! ?Warn my Parliament to bring me Norfolk's doom beforethe sun rise again, else shall they answer for it grievously!" {1}

  Lord Hertford said--

  "The King's will is law;" and, rising, returned to his former place.

  Gradually the wrath faded out of the old King's face, and he said--

  "Kiss me, my prince. ?There . . . what fearest thou? ?Am I not thyloving father?"

  "Thou art good to me that am unworthy, O mighty and gracious lord: thatin truth I know. ?But--but--it grieveth me to think of him that is todie, and--"

  "Ah, 'tis like thee, 'tis like thee! ?I know thy heart is still thesame, even though thy mind hath suffered hurt, for thou wert ever of agentle spirit. ?But this duke standeth between thee and thine honours:?I will have another in his stead that shall bring no taint to his greatoffice. Comfort thee, my prince: ?trouble not thy poor head with thismatter."

  "But is it not I that speed him hence, my liege? ?How long might he notlive, but for me?"

  "Take no thought of him, my prince: ?he is not worthy. ?Kiss me onceagain, and go to thy trifles and amusements; for my malady distressethme. ?I am aweary, and would rest. ?Go with thine uncle Hertford and thypeople, and come again when my body is refreshed."

  Tom, heavy-hearted, was conducted from the presence, for this lastsentence was a death-blow to the hope he had cherished that now he wouldbe set free. ?Once more he heard the buzz of low voices exclaiming, "Theprince, the prince comes!"

  His spirits sank lower and lower as he moved between the glitteringfiles of bowing courtiers; for he recognised that he was indeed acaptive now, and might remain for ever shut up in this gilded cage, aforlorn and friendless prince, except God in his mercy take pity on himand set him free.

  And, turn where he would, he seemed to see floating in the air thesevered head and the remembered face of the great Duke of Norfolk, theeyes fixed on him reproachfully.

  His old dreams had been so pleasant; but this reality was so dreary!