Chapter 29

EDWARD AS KING

The Lord Protector thought deeply, and then turned to the stranger with this question:

" Where does the Great Seal lie? If you can answer this, the question will be decided, for only the true Prince of Wales knows. "

" It is not difficult to answer this question, " answered the lad. Then he turned and gave this command:

" My lord St. John, go to my cabinet in the palace, and in the left-hand wall you will find a nail-head. Press upon it, and the wall will open a little. The first thing you will see in the opening will be the Great Seal. Bring it here. "

Tom Canty looked at Lord St. John and said:

" Why do you not go? Have you not heard the king's command? Go! "

Lord St. John bowed and left. In a few minutes he returned and said to Tom:

" Sire, the Seal is not there. "

" Throw the beggar into the street, " said the Lord Protector: " And give him a good whipping besides. "

Officers of the Guard moved towards Edward, but Tom Canty shouted to them:

" Back! Those who touch him will die! "

The Lord Protector said to the Lord St. John softly:

" But how could the Great Seal of England disappear so completely? Such a heavy golden thing. "

Tom Canty jumped forward and shouted:

" Wait, was it round, and thick, and had it letters cut upon it? Oh, now I know what this Great Seal is! Now I know where it lies; but it was not I who put it there first. "

" Who was it, sire? " asked the Lord Protector.

" He, that stands here — the true King of England. And he will tell you himself where it lies - then you will believe him. Think, my king, try to think well — it was the last thing you did before you ran out of the palace, clothed in my rags, to punish the soldier who had bruised me. "

Everybody looked at the stranger who stood with bowed head thinking hard. At last he lifted his head, shook it slowly, and said in a trembling voice:

" I do not remember where I put it. "

" Oh, my king, " cried Tom Canty in panic.

" Think! Try to remember! We talked — I told you of my sisters, Nan and Bet — ah, yes, you remember that; and I told you about the games of the lads in Offal Court, — you remember these things too. Listen to me and you will remember everything. Then you put on my clothes and I put on yours. Then we stood before a mirror and we were surprised to see that we were so much alike. I am glad that you remember that. Then you noticed that the soldier had bruised my hand.

" Seeing the bruise, your highness got very angry and ran toward the door to punish the soldier.

" You passed a table — the thing you call the Seal lay on that table — you took it from the table and looked around as if you wanted to find a place to hide it, then — "

" Enough! " cried the king. " I remember now. Go, my good St. John, — in an arm-piece of the armour that hangs on the wall you will find the Seal. "

" Right, my king, right! " cried Tom Canty. " Now the throne of England is your own. Hurry, my Lord St. John, hurry! "

When St. John appeared upon the platform, holding the Great Seal in his hand, a shout went up:

" Long live the true King! "

When at last the shout died down, the Lord Protector said:

" The beggar must be thrown in prison. "

But the king said: " No, he will not go to prison. "

He turned to Tom and said:

" My poor boy, how could you remember where I had hidden the Seal? I could not remember it myself. "

" Ah, my king, that was very easy, because I used it many times. "

" Used it? But you could not explain where it was. "

" When they asked about it, I did not know what they wanted. I did not know that this thing was the Seal. They did not say what it was like, your majesty. "

" Then how did you use it, my lad? "

Tom's face got very red and he was silent.

" Speak up, good lad, and fear nothing, " said the king. " How did you use the Great Seal of England? "

" I cracked nuts with it. "

1. Answer the questions.

1) What was the main question of the Lord Protector?

2) Was it difficult for Edward to answer the question?

3) Did the Lord St. John find the Great Seal?

4) Who helped Edward to remember where the Great Seal was?

5) Tom Canty used the Great Seal many times, didn’t he?

6) What did Tom Canty do with the Great Seal?

2. Choose the right word:

1) In the left-hand / right-hand wall you will find a nail-head.

2) The second / first thing you will see will be the Great Seal. Bring it here.

3) " Oh, my king, " cried Tom Canty happily / in panic.

4) I did not know that this thing was the Crown / the Seal.

5) The king said: " No, he will not go to prison / to the palace. "

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