'Jack' was sent with Hugo. They wandered hither and thither
for some time, Hugo watching for opportunities to do a stroke of
business but finding none- so he finally said:
'I see naught to steal; it is a paltry place. Wherefore we will
beg.'
'We, forsooth! Follow thy trade- it befits thee. But I will not
beg.'
'Thou'lt not beg!' exclaimed Hugo, eying the king with surprise.
'Prithee, since when hast thou reformed?'
'What dost thou mean?'
'Mean? Hast thou not begged the streets of London all thy life?'
'I? Thou idiot!'
'Spare thy compliments- thy stock will last longer. Thy father
says thou hast begged all thy days. Mayhap he lied. Peradventure you
will even make so bold as to say he lied,' scoffed Hugo.
'Him you call my father? Yes, he lied.'
'Come, play not thy merry game of madman so far, mate; use it
for thy amusement, not thy hurt. An I tell him this, he will scorch
thee finely for it.'
'Save thyself the trouble. I will tell him.'
'I like thy spirit, I do in truth; but I do not admire thy
judgment. Bone-rackings and bastings be plenty enow in this life,
without going out of one's way to invite them. But a truce to these
matters; I believe your father. I doubt not he can lie; I doubt not he
doth lie, upon occasion, for the best of us do that; but there is no
occasion here. A wise man does not waste so good a commodity as
lying for naught. But come; sith it is thy humor to give over begging,
wherewithal shall we busy ourselves? With robbing kitchens?'
The king said, impatiently:
'Have done with this folly- you weary me!'
Hugo replied, with temper:
'Now harkee, mate; you will not beg, you will not rob; so be it.
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