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:
'Oh, 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. In the name of the king!'
The whisperings ceased as suddenly as if the whisperers had been
stricken 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 to
bow in return, and meekly gazing upon his strange surroundings with
bewildered and pathetic eyes.
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