He hesitated, a little confused,
then turned timidly toward the king, saying, 'I may go now?'
'Go? Surely, if thou desirest. But why not tarry yet a little?
Whither wouldst go?'
Tom dropped his eyes, and answered humbly:
'Peradventure I mistook; but I did think me free, and so was I
moved to seek again the kennel where I was born and bred to misery,
yet which harboreth my mother and my sisters, and so is home to me;
whereas these pomps and splendors whereunto I am not used- oh,
please you, sir, to let me go!'
The king was silent and thoughtful awhile, and his face betrayed a
growing distress and uneasiness. Presently he said, with something
of hope in his voice:
'Perchance he is but mad upon this one strain and hath his wits
unmarred as toucheth other matter. God send it may be so! We will make
trial.'
Then he asked Tom a question in Latin, and Tom answered him lamely
in the same tongue. The King was delighted, and showed it. The lords
and doctors manifested their gratification also.
The king said:
''Twas not according to his schooling and ability, but sheweth
that his mind is but diseased, not stricken fatally. How say you,
sir?'
The physician addressed bowed low, and replied:
'It jumpeth with mine own conviction, sire, that thou hast divined
aright.'
The king looked pleased with this encouragement, coming as it
did from so excellent authority, and continued with good heart:
'Now mark ye all: we will try him further.
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