The Prince and The Pauper by Mark Twain Chapter 15 Page 12

The prisoner clasped his hands together with sudden energy, and wrung them despairingly, at the same time appealing imploringly to the ‘King’ in broken and terrified phrases —

“O my lord the King, an’ thou canst pity the lost, have pity upon me! I am innocent — neither hath that wherewith I am charged been more than but lamely proved — yet I speak not of that; the judgment is gone forth against me and may not suffer alteration; yet in mine extremity I beg a boon, for my doom is more than I can bear.

A grace, a grace, my lord the King! in thy royal compassion grant my prayer — give commandment that I be hanged!”

Tom was amazed. This was not the outcome he had looked for.