Hendon, meanwhile, leads the prince through the crowd toward his lodgings in an inn on London Bridge, then a city unto itself. John Canty, however, intercepts them and tries to take the prince, whom he still believes to be his son, but Hendon sends him away. In Hendon's rooms, the prince acts out his accustomed role and expects Hendon to serve him; Hendon does so, without a protest. As a reward for his help and kindness, Hendon is granted the right to sit in the presence of the king and is made a knight.
In the morning, Hendon leaves while the prince is still sleeping and goes out to buy new clothes for the boy. When he returns, however, the prince is gone, lured away by a boy who is later joined by a ruffian as they head toward Southwark. Although Hendon tries to follow, he loses the trail.
That same morning, Tom Canty is awakened, dressed, and fed; then the Lord Hertford takes him into the throne room, where he must sit through many tedious reports on affairs of state. Although Tom is learning to handle such situations, the Lord Hertford prevents him from making several blunders. In the afternoon, Tom makes good use of an interview with Humphrey Marlow, his "whipping-boy," to learn many of the things he needs to know; from this point on, Tom uses every opportunity to learn, and to remember, important royal matters.
The next two days are similar to the first, and Tom becomes more accustomed to what he must do. On the fourth day, however, the noise of a mob diverts Tom's attention. Looking out the window, he asks what the cause of this is and, after hearing about the trouble, he has the three condemned people brought before him. Questioning them shrewdly and disposing of their sentences decisively, he gains the admiration of all those present; his court also begins to wonder about the so-called rumors of his madness. With the new confidence that his actions have given him, Tom eats the state dinner, before all those who care to watch, without qualm, and without error.
