Chapter 19

THE PRINCE — A PRISONER

Suddenly a police officer pushed his way-through the crowd and was about to lay his hand on the king's shoulder, when Hendon said:

" Do not touch him, good friend. He will go quietly himself. Lead on, we shall follow. "

The officer and the woman with her package went ahead, Miles and the king with the crowd followed them. When they came to the judge, the woman said that the boy had stolen her package, in which there was a little pig.

" The pig cost me three shillings and eight-pence, " the woman said.

The judge looked at the woman and said kindly:

" Do you not know, good woman, that when somebody steals a thing that costs more than thirteen pence, the law says he must hang for it? "

The woman cried in great fear: " Oh, what have I done! The poor boy must be hanged! I do not want that! What shall I do? What can I do? "

The judge simply said: " You can change the value of the pig, as it is not yet written down. "

" Then, let the cost of the pig be eight pence, " cried the woman.

Miles Hendon was so happy that to the king's surprise he threw his arms round the boy and kissed him. The woman went away with her pig; the police officer opened the door for her and followed her out into the hall.

Hendon wanted to know why the officer followed the woman; so he went softly into the dark hall and listened. He heard the following talk.

" It is a good pig; I shall buy it; here is the eight pence. "

" Eight pence! It cost me three shillings and eight pence. "

" Then you told a lie. You said that its cost was eight pence. Come back with me before the judge and answer for your lie, and then the lad will be hanged. "

" Oh, good man, say nothing more! Give me the eight pence and let us forget the matter. "

The woman went away crying. Hendon came back into the judge's room. The judge said some kind words to the king and sentenced him to a short term in prison. The king was very much surprised. He opened his mouth and was going to give the order to hang the good judge, but Hendon took him by the hand and they quietly followed the police officer to the prison.

1. Answer the questions.

1) Edward was brought to the judge, wasn’t he?

2) Who came with him?

3) What did the woman say to the judge?

4) What did the judge say to the woman?

5) Did the woman change her words?

6) What did the police officer do?

7) The judge sentenced the king to a short term in prison, didn’t he?

8) What was the king going to do?

2. Choose the right answer.

1) Edward went to the judge because …..

a) Miles waited for him there; b) the woman said that the boy had stolen her package with a little pig; c) he wanted to see a prison.

2) The pig cost…

a) eight pence; b) thirteen pence; c) three shillings and eight-pence.

3) The officer followed the woman because he wanted ….

a) to take her home; b) to buy her pig for eight-pence; c) to take her pig away.

4) The king was very much surprised because the judge …

a) said some kind words to the king; b) said that the lad will be hanged;

c) sentenced him to a short term in prison.

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