Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий / Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper

Very well. All in good time Hugo strolled off to a neighboring village with his prey; and the two drifted slowly up and down one street after another, the one watching sharply for a sure chance to achieve his evil purpose, and the other watching as sharply for a chance to dart away and get free of his infamous captivity forever.

Both threw away some tolerably fair-looking opportunities; for both, in their secret hearts, were resolved to make absolutely sure work this time, and neither meant to allow his fevered desires to seduce him into any venture that had much uncertainty about it.

Hugo's chance came first. For at last a woman approached who carried a fat package of some sort in a basket. Hugo's eyes sparkled with sinful pleasure as he said to himself, 'Breath o' my life, an I can but put that upon him, 'tis good-den and God keep thee, King of the Game-Cocks!' He waited and watched — outwardly patient, but inwardly consuming with excitement — till the woman had passed by, and the time was ripe; then said, in a low voice; 'Tarry here till I come again,' and darted stealthily after the prey.

The king's heart was filled with joy — he could make his escape now, if Hugo's quest only carried him far enough away.

But he was to have no such luck. Hugo crept behind the woman, snatched the package, and came running back, wrapping it in an old piece of blanket which he carried on his arm. The hue and cry was raised in a moment by the woman, who knew her loss by the lightening of her burden, although she had not seen the pilfering done. Hugo thrust the bundle into the king's hands without halting, saying:

'Now speed ye after me with the rest, and cry "Stop thief!" but mind ye lead them astray.'

The next moment Hugo turned a corner and darted down a crooked alley — and in another moment or two he lounged into view again, looking innocent and indifferent, and took up a position behind a post to watch results.

The insulted king threw the bundle on the ground; and the blanket fell away from it just as the woman arrived, with an augmenting crowd at her heels; she seized the king's wrist with one hand, snatched up her bundle with the other, and began to pour out a tirade of abuse upon the boy while he struggled, without success, to free himself from her grip.