For the Parisians, who always
worship success and trample on misfortune, had, since the disaster at
Worcester, shown themselves weary of receiving so many unlucky
cavaliers, and were sometimes scantly civil. The stranger, as he saw
the others come up, called out: 'Ha, Walwyn, is it you? You'll give
your word for me that the Chevalier Stuart is an honest fellow of
your acquaintance, though somewhat out at elbows, like other poor
beggars.'
And then Eustace saw that it was the King, sun-burnt, thin, and ill-
clad, grown from a lad to a man, but with his black eyes glittering
gaily through all, as no one's ever did glitter save King Charles's.
He gave his word, and passed him through without divulging who he
was, since it would not have been well to have had all the streets
turn out to gaze on him in his present trim, having ridden on just as
he crossed from Brigthelmstone. The two brothers did not know one
another, not having met since Prince Henry was a mere infant of four
or five years old; and Eustace said he found the little fellow
drawing himself up, and riding somewhat in advance, in some princely
amazement that so shabby a stranger should join his company so
familiarly and without any check from his companion.
The King began to ask for his mother, and then, at a sign and hint
from Eustace, called out:
'What! Harry, hast not a word for thy poor battered elder brother?'
And the boy's face, as he turned, was a sight to see, as Eustace told
us.
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