Tom receives instructions

Tom was conducted to the principal apartment of a noble suite, and made to sit down—a thing which he was loth to do, since there were elderly men and men of high degree about him. He begged them to be seated also, but they only bowed their thanks or murmured them, and remained standing. He would have insisted, but his ‘uncle’ the Earl of Hertford whispered in his ear—
“Prithee, insist not, my lord; it is not meet that they sit in thy presence.”
The Lord St. John was announced, and after making obeisance to Tom, he said—
“I come upon the King’s errand, concerning a matter which requireth privacy. Will it please your royal highness to dismiss all that attend you here, save my lord the Earl of Hertford?”
Observing that Tom did not seem to know how to proceed, Hertford whispered him to make a sign with his hand, and not trouble himself to speak unless he chose. When the waiting gentlemen had retired, Lord St. John said—
“His majesty commandeth, that for due and weighty reasons of state, the prince’s grace shall hide his infirmity in all ways that be within his power, till it be ed and he be as he was before. To wit, that he shall deny to none that he is the true prince, and heir to England’s greatness; that he shall uphold his princely dignity, and shall receive, without word or sign of protest, that reverence and observance which unto it do appertain of right and ancient usage; that he shall cease to speak to any of that lowly birth and life his malady hath conjured out of the unwholesome imaginings of o’er-wrought fancy; that he shall strive with diligence to bring unto his memory again those faces which he was wont to know—and where he faileth he shall hold his peace, neither betraying by semblance of surprise or other sign that he hath forgot; that upon occasions of state, whensoever any matter shall perplex him as to the thing he should do or the utterance he should make, he shall show nought of unrest to the curious that look on, but take advice in that matter of the Lord Hertford, or my humble self, which are commanded of the King to be upon this service and close at call, till this commandment be dissolved. Thus saith the King’s majesty, who sendeth greeting to your royal highness, and prayeth that God will of His mercy quickly heal you and have you now and ever in His holy keeping.”

The Lord St. John made reverence and stood aside. Tom replied resignedly—
“The King hath said it. None may palter with the King’s command, or fit it to his ease, where it doth chafe, with deft evasions. The King shall be obeyed.”
Lord Hertford said—
“Touching the King’s majesty’s ordainment concerning books and such like serious matters, it may peradventure please your highness to ease your time with lightsome entertainment, lest you go wearied to the banquet and suffer harm thereby.”
Tom’s face showed inquiring surprise; and a blush followed when he saw Lord St. John’s eyes bent sorrowfully upon him. His lordship said—
“Thy memory still wrongeth thee, and thou hast shown surprise—but suffer it not to trouble thee, for ‘tis a matter that will not bide, but depart with thy mending malady. My Lord of Hertford speaketh of the city’s banquet which the King’s majesty did promise, some two months flown, your highness should attend. Thou recallest it now?”
“It grieves me to confess it had indeed escaped me,” said Tom, in a hesitating voice; and blushed again.
At this moment the Lady Elizabeth and the Lady Jane Grey were announced. The two lords exchanged significant glances, and Hertford stepped quickly toward the door. As the young girls ed him, he said in a low voice—
“I pray ye, ladies, seem not to observe his humours, nor show surprise when his memory doth lapse—it will grieve you to note how it doth stick at every trifle.”
Meantime Lord St. John was saying in Tom’s ear—
“Please you, sir, keep diligently in mind his majesty’s desire. all thou canst—seem to all else. Let them not perceive that thou art much changed from thy wont, for thou knowest how tenderly thy old play-fellows bear thee in their hearts and how ‘twould grieve them. Art willing, sir, that I remain?—and thine uncle?”
Tom signified assent with a gesture and a murmured word, for he was already learning, and in his simple heart was resolved to acquit himself as best he might, according to the King’s command.
In spite of every precaution, the conversation among the young people became a little embarrassing at times. More than once, in truth, Tom was near to breaking down and confessing himself unequal to his tremendous part; but the tact of the Princess Elizabeth saved him, or a word from one or the other of the vigilant lords, thrown in apparently by chance, had the same happy effect. Once the little Lady Jane turned to Tom and dismayed him with this question,—

“Hast paid thy duty to the Queen’s majesty to-day, my lord?”
Tom hesitated, looked distressed, and was about to stammer out something at hazard, when Lord St. John took the word and answered for him with the easy grace of a courtier accustomed to encounter delicate difficulties and to be ready for them—
“He hath indeed, madam, and she did greatly hearten him, as touching his majesty’s condition; is it not so, your highness?”
Tom mumbled something that stood for assent, but felt that he was getting upon dangerous ground. Somewhat later it was mentioned that Tom was to study no more at present, whereupon her little ladyship exclaimed—
“‘Tis a pity, ‘tis a pity! Thou wert proceeding bravely. But bide thy time in patience: it will not be for long. Thou’lt yet be graced with learning like thy father, and make thy tongue master of as many languages as his, good my prince.”

“My father!” cried Tom, off his guard for the moment. "I trow he cannot speak his own so that any but the swine that kennel in the styes may tell his meaning; and as for learning of any sort soever—”
He looked up and encountered a solemn warning in my Lord St. John’s eyes.
He stopped, blushed, then continued low and sadly: “Ah, my malady persecuteth me again, and my mind wandereth. I meant the King’s grace no irreverence.”
“We know it, sir,” said the Princess Elizabeth, taking her ‘brother’s’ hand between her two palms, respectfully but caressingly; “trouble not thyself as to that. The fault is none of thine, but thy distemper’s.”
“Thou’rt a gentle comforter, sweet lady,” said Tom, gratefully, “and my heart moveth me to thank thee for’t, an’ I may be so bold.”
Once the giddy little Lady Jane fired a simple Greek phrase at Tom. The Princess Elizabeth’s quick eye saw by the serene blankness of the target’s front that the shaft was overshot; so she tranquilly delivered a return volley of sounding Greek on Tom’s behalf, and then straightway changed the talk to other matters.
Time wore on pleasantly, and likewise smoothly, on the whole. Snags and sandbars grew less and less frequent, and Tom grew more and more at his ease, seeing that all were so lovingly bent upon helping him and overlooking his mistakes. When it came out that the little ladies were to accompany him to the Lord Mayor’s banquet in the evening, his heart gave a bound of relief and delight, for he felt that he should not be friendless, now, among that multitude of strangers; whereas, an hour earlier, the idea of their going with him would have been an inable terror to him.
Tom’s guardian angels, the two lords, had had less comfort in the interview than the other parties to it. They felt much as if they were piloting a great ship through a dangerous channel; they were on the alert constantly, and found their office no child’s play. Wherefore, at last, when the ladies’ visit was drawing to a close and the Lord Guilford Dudley was announced, they not only felt that their charge had been sufficiently taxed for the present, but also that they themselves were not in the best condition to take their ship back and make their anxious voyage all over again. So they respectfully advised Tom to excuse himself, which he was very glad to do, although a slight shade of disappointment might have been observed upon my Lady Jane’s face when she heard the splendid stripling denied ittance.
There was a pause now, a sort of waiting silence which Tom could not understand. He glanced at Lord Hertford, who gave him a sign—but he failed to understand that also. The ready Elizabeth came to the rescue with her usual easy grace. She made reverence and said—
“Have we leave of the prince’s grace my brother to go?”
Tom said—
“Indeed your ladyships can have whatsoever of me they will, for the asking; yet would I rather give them any other thing that in my poor power lieth, than leave to take the light and blessing of their presence hence. Give ye good den, and God be with ye!” Then he smiled inwardly at the thought, “‘Tis not for nought I have dwelt but among princes in my reading, and taught my tongue some slight trick of their broidered and gracious speech withal!”
When the illustrious maidens were gone, Tom turned wearily to his keepers and said—

“May it please your lordships to grant me leave to go into some corner and rest me?”
Lord Hertford said—
“So please your highness, it is for you to command, it is for us to obey. That thou should’st rest is indeed a needful thing, since thou must journey to the city presently.”
He touched a bell, and a page appeared, who was ordered to desire the presence of Sir William Herbert. This gentleman came straightway, and conducted Tom to an inner apartment. Tom’s first movement there was to reach for a cup of water; but a silk-and-velvet servitor seized it, dropped upon one knee, and offered it to him on a golden salver.
Next the tired captive sat down and was going to take off his buskins, timidly asking leave with his eye, but another silk-and-velvet discomforter went down upon his knees and took the office from him. He made two or three further efforts to help himself, but being promptly forestalled each time, he finally gave up, with a sigh of resignation and a murmured

“Beshrew me, but I marvel they do not require to breathe for me also!” Slippered, and wrapped in a sumptuous robe, he laid himself down at last to rest, but not to sleep, for his head was too full of thoughts and the room too full of people. He could not dismiss the former, so they stayed; he did not know enough to dismiss the latter, so they stayed also, to his vast regret—and theirs.

Tom’s departure had left his two noble guardians alone. They mused a while, with much head-shaking and walking the floor, then Lord St. John said—
“Plainly, what dost thou think?”
“Plainly, then, this. The King is near his end; my nephew is mad—mad will mount the throne, and mad remain. God protect England, since she will need it!”
“Verily it promiseth so, indeed. But . . . have you no misgivings as to . . . as to . . .” The speaker hesitated, and finally stopped. He evidently felt that he was upon delicate ground. Lord Hertford stopped before him, looked into his face with a clear, frank eye, and said—
“Speak on—there is none to hear but me. Misgivings as to what?”
“I am full loth to word the thing that is in my mind, and thou so near to him in blood, my lord. But craving pardon if I do offend, seemeth it not strange that madness could so change his port and manner?—not but that his port and speech are princely still, but that they differ, in one unweighty trifle or another, from what his custom was aforetime. Seemeth it not strange that madness should filch from his memory his father’s very lineaments; the customs and observances that are his due from such as be about him; and, leaving him his Latin, strip him of his Greek and French? My lord, be not offended, but ease my mind of its disquiet and receive my grateful thanks. It haunteth me, his saying he was not the prince, and so—”
“Peace, my lord, thou utterest treason! Hast forgot the King’s command? I am party to thy crime if I but listen.”
St. John paled, and hastened to say—
“I was in fault, I do confess it. Betray me not, grant me this grace out of thy courtesy, and I will neither think nor speak of this thing more. Deal not hardly with me, sir, else am I ruined.”
“I am content, my lord. So thou offend not again, here or in the ears of others, it shall be as though thou hadst not spoken. But thou need’st not have misgivings. He is my sister’s son; are not his voice, his face, his form, familiar to me from his cradle? Madness can do all the odd conflicting things thou seest in him, and more. Dost not recall how that the old Baron Marley, being mad, forgot the favour of his own countenance that he had known for sixty years, and held it was another’s; nay, even claimed he was the son of Mary Magdalene, and that his head was made of Spanish glass; and, sooth to say, he suffered none to touch it, lest by mischance some heedless hand might shiver it? Give thy misgivings easement, good my lord. This is the very prince—I know him well—and soon will be thy king; it may advantage thee to bear this in mind, and more dwell upon it than the other.”
After some further talk, in which the Lord St. John covered up his mistake as well as he could by repeated protests that his faith was thoroughly grounded now, and could not be assailed by doubts again, the Lord Hertford relieved his fellow-keeper, and sat down to keep watch and ward alone. He was soon deep in meditation, and evidently the longer he thought, the more he was bothered. By-and-by he began to pace the floor and mutter.
“Tush, he must be the prince! Will any be in all the land maintain there can be two, not of one blood and birth, so marvellously twinned? And even were it so, ‘twere yet a stranger miracle that chance should cast the one into the other’s place. Nay, ‘tis folly, folly, folly!”
Presently he said—
“Now were he impostor and called himself prince, look you that would be natural; that would be reasonable. But lived ever an impostor yet, who, being called prince by the king, prince by the court, prince by all, denied his dignity and pleaded against his exaltation? No! By the soul of St. Swithin, no! This is the true prince, gone mad!”

Tom recibe instrucciones

Tom fue conducido al principal aposento de un suntuoso apartamiento y lo hicieron sentar, cosa que repugnaba hacer, pues se vea rodeado de caballeros ancianos y de hombres de elevada condicin. Les rog que se sentaran tambin, pero slo se inclinaron agradecindolo o murmuraron las gracias, y permanecieron en pie. Tom habra insistido, pero su "to" el conde de Hertford susurr a su odo:
–Te lo ruego, no insistas, mi seor. No es correcto que se sienten en tu presencia.
Anunciaron a lord St, John, quien, despus de hacer pleitesa a Tom, dijo:
–Vengo por mandato del rey para un asunto que exige secreto. Quiere Su Alteza Real dignarse despedir a los presentes, excepto a milord el conde de Herdord?
Observando que Tom no pareca saber cmo proceder, Hertford le susurr que hiciera una sea con la mano y no se molestara en hablar a menos que as lo deseara. Cuando se retiraron los caballeros de servicio, dijo lord St. John:
–Ordena Su Majestad que, por graves y poderosas razones de Estado, Su Gracia el prncipe oculte su enfermedad por todos los medios que estn a su alcance, hasta que pase y Su Gracia vuelva a estar como estaba antes; es decir, que no deber negar a nadie que es el verdadero prncipe y heredero de la grandeza de Inglaterra, que deber conservar su dignidad de prncipe y recibir, sin palabra ni signo de protesta, la reverencia y observancia que se le deben por acertada y aeja costumbre; que deber dejar de de hablarle a ninguno de ese nacimiento y vida de baja condicin que su enfermedad ha creado pn las malsanas imaginaciones de una fantasa obsesionada; que habr de procurar con diligencia traer de nuevo a su memoria los rostro que sola conocer, y cuando no lo consiga deber guardar silencio, sin revelar con gestos de sorpresa, u otras seales, que los ha olvidado; que en las ceremonias de Estado, cuando quiera que se sienta perplejo en cuanto a lo que debe hacer y las palabras que debe decir, no habr de mostrar la menor inquietud a los espectadores curiosos, sino pedir consejo en tal materia a lord Hertford, o a su humilde servidor, que tenemos mandato del rey de ponernos a su servicio atentos a su llamado, hasta que sta orden se anule. Esto dice Su Majestad el rey, que enva sus saludos a Su Alteza Real y ruega que Dios quiera en su misericordia sanar a Vuestra Alteza prontamente y conservarle ahora y siempre en su bendita proteccin.
Lord St. John hizo una reverencia y se apart a un lado. Tom replic con resignacin:
–El rey lo ha dicho. Nadie puede desobedecer el mandato del rey ni acomodarlo a su gusto, cuando le enoje, con arteras evasivas. El rey ser obedecido.
Lord Hertford dijo:
–Tocante a la orden de Su Majestad el rey en lo que concierne a los libros y otras cosas serias, por ventura agradara a Vuestra Alteza ocupar vuestro tiempo en plcidos entretenimientos, para no llegar fatigado al banquete y resentirse de ello.
La cara de Tom mostr sorpresa inquisitiva, y se sonroj al ver que los ojos d lord St. John se clavaban pesarosos en l. Su Seora dijo:
–Te flaquea an la memoria y has demostrado sorpresa; pero no te apures, porque esto no persistir, sino que desaparecer conforme tu dolencia mejore. Milord de Hertford te habla de la fiesta de la ciudad, a la cual Su Majestad el rey prometi hace unos dos meses que asistira Tu Alteza. Lo recuerdas ahora?
–Me duele confesar que se me fue de la memoria –contest Tom con voz vacilante, y se sonroj de nuevo.
En este punto anunciaron a lady Isabel y a lady Juana Grey. Ambos lores se cruzaron significativas miradas, y Hertford se dirigi velozmente hacia la puerta. Cuando las doncellas pasaron por delante de l dijo en voz baja:
–Os ruego, seoras, que no deis muestras de observar sus rarezas ni mostris sorpresa cuando le falte la memoria; os doler notar cmo se turba con cualquier fruslera.
Entretanto lord St. John estaba diciendo al odo de Tom:
—Te suplico, seor, que conserves constantemente en la memoria el deseo de Su Majestad. Recuerda cuanto puedas y finge recordar todo lo dems. Qu no se percaten de cmo has cambiado tu modo normal anterior, pues sabes cun tiernamente te tienen en su corazn tus antiguas compaeras de juegos y cunto pesar habras de causarles. Quieres, seor, que me quede yo, y tu to tambin?
Expres Tom su asentimiento con un ademn y murmurando una palabra, porque iba aprendiendo ya, y su ingenuo, corazn estaba resuelto a salir lo ms airoso que pudiera, conforme al mandato del rey.
A pesar de las muchas precauciones, la conversacin entre los jvenes fue a veces un tanto embarazosa. Ms de una vez, en verdad, Tom se vio a punto de rendirse, y de confesarse incapaz de representar el terrible papel; pero el tacto de la princesa Isabel lo salv, o una palabra de uno u otro de los vigilantes lores, soltada al parecer por casualidad, tuvo el mismo feliz efecto. Una vez la pequea lady Juana se volvi hacia Tom y lo dej sin aliento con esta pregunta:
–Has presentado hoy tus respetos a Su Majestad la reina, mi seor?
Vacil Tom, se vea desazonado, e iba a balbucir algo al azar, cuando lord St. John tom la palabra y respondi por l, con el suelto desembaraz de un cortesano acostumbrado a afrontar situaciones delicadas y a estar al punto para ellas:
–S, por cierto, seora, y Su Majestad la reina le ha animado mucho en lo tocante al estado de Su Majestad, no es as, mi seor?
Balbuci Tom unas palabras que se interpretaron como asentimiento, pero sinti que estaba entrando en terreno peligroso. Poco despus se mencion que Tom no iba a estudiar ms por entonces, a lo cual exclam la pequea Lady:
–Es lstima, es lstima! Hacas magnficos progresos. Pero sfrelo con paciencia, porque esto no durar mucho. Pronto gozars de la misma instruccin que tu padre, y tu lengua dominar tantas lenguas como la suya, mi buen prncipe.
–Mi padre! –exclam Tom, fuera de guardia en ese momento–. A fe ma que no es capaz de hablar la suya para que le entiendan sino los cerdos que se revuelcan en las pocilgas; y en cuanto a instruccin de otro gnero...
Alz la vista y vio una solemne advertencia en los ojos de milord, St. John. Esto le hizo detenerse, sonrojarse y continuar, apagado y triste:
–Ah! Me persigue de nuevo la enfermedad y mi mente desvara. No he querido mostrar irreverencia para con Su Majestad el rey.
–Lo sabemos, seor –dijo la princesa Isabel, tomando entre ambas manos la de su "hermano", respetuosamente, pero acariciadoramente–. No te preocupes por eso. La falta no es tuya, sino de tu destemplanza.
–Gentil consoladora eres, dulce seora –dijo Tom agradecido–, y mi corazn me mueve a darte gracias por ello, si me lo permites
Una vez la atolondrada lady Juana le dispar a Tom una sencilla frase en griego. La perspicacia de lady Isabel vio, en la serena impasibilidad de la frente de Tom, que la flecha no haba dado en el blanco, por lo cual solt tranquilamente una retahla de excelente griego relativa a Tom y en seguida desvi la conversacin a otros asuntos.
En conjunto transcurri el tiempo agradablemente, y casi suavemente. Los escollos y arrecifes fueron cada vez menos frecuentes, y Tom se sinti ms y ms a sus anchas al ver, que todos estaban amorosamente inclinados a ayudarlo y a pasar por alto sus equivocaciones. Cuando sali a la conversacin que las damitas habran de acompaarle por la noche al banquete del alcalde mayor, el corazn le dio un salto de consuelo y de alegra, porque sinti que ya no se hallara sin amigos entre aquella muchedumbre de extraos, mientras que, una hora antes, la idea de que ellas fueran con l le habra causado un terror insoportable.
Los ngeles guardianes de Tom, los dos lores, haban estado menos cmodos en la entrevista que las otras partes. Les pareca enteramente que conducan un enorme navo por un canal peligroso; estaban alerta constantemente y encontraron que su cargo no era luego de nios. Por tanto, cuando al fin la visita de las damas tocaba a su trmino y anunciaron a lord Guilford Dudley, no slo pensaron que su carga haba sido suficientemente gravosa, sino tambin que ellos mismos no se hallaban en el mejor estado para hacer retroceder al navo y emprender de nuevo un viaje lleno de ansiedad. As, pues, respetuosamente aconsejaron a Tom que se excusara, lo cual hizo de buena gana, aunque habra podido observarse una leve sombra de desencanto en el semblante de Lady Juana cuando oy que se negaba la entrada al esplndido mozalbete.
Hubo una pausa, una especie de silencio de espera, que Tom no pudo comprender: Mir a lord Hertford, y ste le hizo un signo, pero el nio no lo entendi tampoco. Isabel acudi prontamente en su socorro, con su habitual soltura. Hizo una reverencia y dijo:
–Tenemos licencia de Su Gracia el prncipe, mi hermano, para retirarnos?
–Vuestras Seoras –contest Tom–, pueden obtener de m lo que gusten sin ms que pedirlo; pero preferira daros cualquier otra cosa que estuviera en mi poder antes que licencia para privarme de la luz y la bendicin de vuestra presencia. Dios os gue y sea con vosotras.
Al decir esto sonri por dentro, pensando: –No en vano he vivido slo entre prncipes en mis lecturas y he adiestrado mi lengua en sus pulidas y graciosas palabras.
Cuando salieron las ilustres doncellas, Tom se volvi fatigado a sus guardianes y dijo:
–Tendris vuestras, seoras la bondad de darme licencia para retirarme a un rincn a descansar?
Lord Hertford dijo:
–A Vuestra Alteza le toca mandarnos y a nosotros obedecer. Necesario es en verdad que tomes algn reposo, ya que pronto debes emprender el viaje a la ciudad.
Toc una, campanilla y se present un paje, a quien se dio orden de solicitar la presencia de sir William Herbert. Este caballero se present al instante y condujo a Tom a un aposento interior, donde el primer movimiento del nio fue alcanzar una copa de agua; pero la tom un servidor vestido de seda y terciopelo, que hincando una rodilla se la ofreci en una bandeja de oro.
Se sent despus el fatigado cautivo y se dispuso a quitarse las zapatillas, despus de pedir tmidamente permiso con la mirada; mas otro oficioso criada, tambin ataviado de seda y terciopelo, se arrodill y le ahorr el trabajo. Dos o tres esfuerzos ms hizo el nio por servirse a si mismo; mas, como siempre se le anticiparon vivamente, acab por ceder con un suspiro de resignacin y diciendo entre dientes: "Maravllame que no se empeen tambin en respirar por mi" En chinelas y envuelto en suntuosa bata se tendi por fin a reposar, pero no a dormir, porque su cabeza estaba demasiado llena de pensamientos y la estancia demasiado llena de gente. No poda desechar los primeros, as que permanecieron; no saba tampoco lo bastante para despedir a los segundos, as que tambin se quedaron, con gran pesar del prncipe y de ellos.
La partida de Tom haba dejado solos a sus dos nobles guardianes. Permanecieron un rato meditabundos, y meneando mucho la cabeza y paseando por la estancia. Entonces dijo lord St. John:
–Francamente, qu piensas? Francamente, pues, esto la vida del rey toca a su fin; mi sobrino est loco, loco ascender al trono, y loco seguir. Dios proteja. a Inglaterra, que lo habr menester.
–As lo parece, ciertamente, pero ..., no tienes barruntos de si... si...?
Titube el personaje y acab por detenerse. Sin duda sinti que estaba en terreno delicado. Lord Hertford se, par ante l, mirle a la cara con serenos y francos ojos y dijo:
–Prosigue. Nadie sino yo te oye. Barruntos respecto a qu?
–Me repugna poner en palabras lo que est en mi mente, siendo t como eres tan cercano a l en la sangre, milord. Mas, solicitando tu perdn si te ofendo, no te parece raro que la locura pueda cambiar tanto su porte y sus modales? Su porte y sus palabras son an los de un prncipe, pero difieren en cosas insignificantes de las que acostumbraba el prncipe anteriormente. No te parece extrao que la locura haya borrado de su memoria las mismas facciones de su padre, las costumbres y las observancias que se le deben por los que le rodean, y que, dejndole el latn, le haya quitado el griego y el francs? Milord, no te ofendas, pero libera mi mente de esta inquietud y recibe mi agradecimiento. No se me quita de la cabeza su afirmacin de que no era el prncipe y...
–Calla, milord, profieres traicin. Has, olvidado el mandato del rey? Recuerda que tan slo escucharte me hago cmplice de tu delito.
Palideci St. John y se apresur a aadir:
–He faltado, lo confieso. No me hagas traicin. Que tu cortesa me conceda esa merced y no volver ni a pensarlo ni a hablar ms de eso. No te muestres duro conmigo, seor, o estoy perdido.
–Basta, milord. Si no faltas de nuevo, aqu o ante otros, ser como si no hubieras hablado. Mas no debes albergar recelos: es el hijo de mi hermana. No me son familiares desde su cuna su voz, su cara, su figura? La locura puede provocar esas cosas tan raras que t ves en l y ms an. No recuerdas cmo el viejo barn Marley, al volverse loco, olvid su propia personalidad de sesenta aos para creer que era la de otro? No recuerdas que pretenda ser el hijo de Mara Magdalena y tener la cabeza hecha de vidrio espaol? A fe ma que no sufra que nadie la tocara, por temor a que una mano atolondrada pudiera romperla. Tranquiliza tus barruntos, mi buen seor. Es el mismo prncipe, lo conozco bien, y pronto ser el rey. Te convendr tener esto en mente y pensar en ello ms que en lo otro.
Despus de un rato ms de conversacin, en la cual lord St. John enmend su yerro lo mejor que pudo con repetidas protestas de que su fe era ya arraigada y no poda ser otra vez asaltada por la duda, lord Hertford relev a su compaero de custodia y solo se sent a vigilar y aguardar. No tard en sumirse en la meditacin, y, evidentemente, cuanto ms pensaba ms perplejo se senta. A poco empez a dar paseos y a hablar entre dientes:
–Oh! Debe ser el prncipe. Habr alguien en el reino capaz de sostener que puede haber dos personas, no siendo de la misma sangre y nacimiento, tan extraordinariamente iguales? Y aunque as fuera, milagro ms extrao sera an que la casualidad pusiera a una de ellas en lugar de la otra. No. Es locura, locura, locura.
Al cabo de un rato se dijo:
–Porque si fuera un impostor que se diera prncipe, eso sera muy natural; eso sera razonable; pero ha habido jams impostor alguno que, al ser llamado prncipe por el rey, prncipe por la corte, prncipe por todos, negara su dignidad y suplicara contra su exaltacin? No. Por el alma de San Jorge, no! Es el verdadero prncipe, que se ha vuelto loco.