Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Treasure Chamber
Perhaps,Ithought,itwasfromthisverystorethatSolomondrewtherawmaterialforhis"greatthroneofivory,"ofwhich"therewasnotthelikemadeinanykingdom."
Ontheoppositesideofthechamberwereaboutascoreofwoodenboxes,somethinglikeMartini–Henryammunitionboxes,onlyratherlarger,andpaintedred.
"Therearethediamonds,"criedI;"bringthelight."
SirHenrydidso,holdingitclosetothetopbox,ofwhichthelid,renderedrottenbytimeeveninthatdryplace,appearedtohavebeensmashedin,probablybyDaSilvestrahimself. PushingmyhandthroughtheholeinthelidIdrewitoutfull,notofdiamonds,butofgoldpieces,ofashapethatnoneofushadseenbefore,andwithwhatlookedlikeHebrewcharactersstampeduponthem.
"Ah!"Isaid,replacingthecoin,"weshan’tgobackempty-handed,anyhow. Theremustbeacoupleofthousandpiecesineachbox,andthereareeighteenboxes. Isupposethiswasthemoneytopaytheworkmenandmerchants."
"Well,"putinGood,"Ithinkthatisthelot;Idon’tseeanydiamonds,unlesstheoldPortugueseputthemallintohisbag."
"Letmylordslookyonderwhereitisdarkest,iftheywouldfindthestones,"saidGagool,interpretingourlooks. "Theremylordswillfindanook,andthreestonechestsinthenook,twosealedandoneopen."
BeforetranslatingthistoSirHenry,whocarriedthelight,Icouldnotresistaskinghowsheknewthesethings,ifnoonehadenteredtheplacesincethewhiteman,generationsago.