opportunities to do a stroke of business, but finding none — so he finally said —

“I see nought to steal; it is a paltry place.

Wherefore we will beg.”

“We, forsooth! Follow thy trade — it befits thee. But I will not beg.”

“Thou’lt not beg!” exclaimed Hugo, eyeing the King with surprise. “Prithee, since when hast thou reformed?”

“What dost thou mean?”

“Mean? Hast thou not begged the streets of London all thy life?”

“I? Thou idiot!”

“Spare thy compliments — thy stock will last the longer. Thy father says thou hast begged all thy days. Mayhap he lied. Peradventure you will even make so bold as to say he lied,”