Chapter 23

IN PRISON

The two friends were put into a large room. There were twenty prisoners there — men and women of different ages. It was a noisy company. The king was very angry. Hendon was silent and sad. They could not sleep that night: the prisoners were singing, fighting and shouting. or a whole week the days and nights were just the same. Several times some servants sent by sir Hugh came to look at Hendon and laugh at him.

At last a change came. One day an old man entered the room. When Hendon looked at him, he said to himself: " This is Blake Andrews, who was a servant in my father's family all his life. A good kind man. "

When nobody was looking at them, the old man fell on his knees and said in a low voice:

" Oh, you have come again, my master. I believed that you were dead, but I am so happy that you are alive. I knew you the moment I saw you. I am old and poor, sir Miles, but say the word and I shall go and tell the truth even if I am hanged for it. "

" No, " said Hendon, " you will not. It will ruin you and help me very little. But I thank you for your kind words. "

The old servant became very useful to Hendon and the king, for he came several times a day and brought them food. Hendon gave it all to the king, as the boy was not able to eat the bad prison food. Among other things Andrews told Hendon that: Hugh had become a cruel master, whom everybody hated. Even his wife, the Lady Edith, did not love him. Very soon after the marriage, Edith had found among her husband's papers several drafts of the letter which said that Miles Hendon had been killed. She realized that it was Hugh who had written that false letter.

Once the king got interested in the old servant's talk. " People say that the king is mad, " said Andrews, " but people who speak of it are hanged. King Henry VIII will be buried at Windsor in a day or two — on the 16th of the month, and the new king's coronation will take place at Westminster on the 20th. "

" I think they must find him first, " said his majesty.

The old man wanted to ask what he meant, but Hendon stopped him with a question:

" Will Sir Hugh go to the coronation? "

" Yes, he will, " answered the old man. " And with great hopes, for he is in favour with the Lord Protector. "

" What Lord Protector? " asked his majesty.

" Lord Hertford. "

The king asked angrily:

" When did he become Lord Protector? "

" On the last day of January. "

" And who made him Lord Protector? "

" He himself and the Great Council, with the help of the king. "

" The king! " cried his majesty. " What king, good sir? "

" What king? (" What is the matter with the boy? " the old man thought. ) As we have only one king, it is not difficult to answer: His Majesty King Edward the Sixth. He is a dear little boy, and whether he is mad or not — and people say he grows better every day — everybody loves him, for he has saved many people's lives and now he wants to change the cruellest of the laws that make the people suffer. "

This news struck his majesty. He wondered whether the " dear little boy" was the same beggar-boy whom he had left dressed in his own clothes in the palace. It did not seem possible, for his manners and speech were different from the manners of the Prince of Wales. Could it be somebody else? The king slept very badly that night. Among the prisoners there were two women who were very kind to Edward. He was very thankful to them and loved them with all his heart. He asked them why they were in prison, and when they said they were Baptists, he smiled and asked:

" Is that a crime for which people have to be shut up in prison? I am sorry, for I shall lose you soon — they will not keep you long for such a little thing. "

They did not answer.

" Tell me, what will they do to you? " cried the king.

They tried to speak of other things but he went on: " Will they beat you? No, no, they will not be so cruel. Say they will not. "

One of the women said, crying:

" Oh, do not think of us, dear boy. "

" Then I understand they will beat you. Oh, you must not cry. When I am the king again, I shall change these cruel laws. "

1. Answer the questions.

1) Where did the king and Miles Hendon find themselves?

2) Who entered the room of the prison one day?

3) What story did Blake Andrew tell Miles Hendon?

4) What kind of people did the king meet in prison?

5) What did the king promise the women?

2. Finish the sentences according to the text and put the events in the right order.

1) Among the prisoners there were ………………………………………………..

2) Once the king……………………………………………………………………..

3) The old servant became……………………………………………………………

4) He was very thankful to them……………………………………………………….

5) The two friends were……………………………………………………………….

6) One day an old man……………………………………………………………….

7) When I am the king again, …………………………………………………………..

8) " People say that………………………………………………………………………

9) He wondered whether the " dear little boy" was…………………………………….

10) There were twenty prisoners there…………………………………………………..

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