"Alexander, Lloyd - The Beggar Queen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alexander Lloyd)

"Not as much as I'd like. MickleЧPrincess Au-
gustaЧwrites to me. So does Chief Minister Torrens.
They're never sure where I'll be, and neither am I- By
the time anything catches up with me it could be weeks.
I send them word whenever I find a dispatch rider. It
gets there sooner or later."

"Money?"

"Enough. I have a treasury warrant. King Augustine
himself signed it. Do you need anything?"

Luther winked. "You can buy supper for us later."

Luther unbolted a door at the head of the stairs. The
chamber was small, and the slope of the raftered ceiling
made it appear still more cramped. Except for a pair of
saddlebags in the comer,. there was no sign it had been
much lived in. The table was bare, the straw mattress
unrumpled. The fire had nearly burned out in the
hearth.

"The landlord claims it's the best room in the house."
Luther lit a candle stub. He squatted at the fireplace
and blew on the embers- "I hope he's lying. Now, let's
hear about your grand tour."

"Not very grand," said Theo, "but it suits me better
this way. I can see more on my own." He gave Luther

5]

a wry smile "Sometimes I wonder if Augustine wants
me to leam about the kingdom or if he Just wants me
anywhere but at the Juliana Palace NoЧthat's not fair
He means weil 1 could have stayed It was my choice

"Even so," he went on, "I stiil wonder Mickle doesn't
care a rap if she's a princess and I'm a commoner For
Queen Caroline, it's bad enough that I was a printer's
devil Worse, that I had anything to do with Flonan
The courtiers already make it a royal scandal '

"Meanwhile, they pack you off sightseeing '

"I've done more than that " From his )acket, he took
a wad of papers, closely written, tied about with string.
"I've been keeping a journal What I've seen, what I've
done I've talked with bailiffs, stewards, tenant farm-