Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Conspiracy Unmasked
"CousinFrodohasbeenveryclose,"saidPippin."Butthetimehascomeforhimtoopenout.SofarwehavebeengivennothingmoretogoonthanFarmerMaggot’sguessthatithassomethingtodowitholdBilbo’streasure."
"Thatwasonlyaguess,"saidFrodohastily."Maggotdoesnotknowanything."
"OldMaggotisashrewdfelow,"saidMerry."Alotgoesonbehindhisroundfacethatdoesnotcomeoutinhistalk.I’veheardthatheusedtogointotheOldForestatonetime,andhehasthereputationofknowingagoodmanystrangethings.Butyoucanatleasttellus,Frodo,whetheryouthinkhisguessgoodorbad."
"Ithink,"answeredFrodoslowly,’thatitwasagoodguess,asfarasitgoes.ThereisaconnexionwithBilbo’soldadventures,andtheRidersarelooking,orperhapsoneoughttosaysearching,forhimorforme.Ialsofear,ifyouwanttoknow,thatitisnojokeatal;andthatIamnotsafehereoranywhereelse."Helookedroundatthewindowsandwals,asifhewasafraidtheywouldsuddenlygiveway.Theotherslookedathiminsilence,andexchangedmeaningglancesamongthemselves.
"It’scomingoutinaminute,"whisperedPippintoMerry.Merrynodded.
"Wel!"saidFrodoatlast,sittingupandstraighteninghisback,asifhehadmadeadecision."Ican’tkeepitdarkanylonger.Ihavegotsomethingtotellyoual.ButIdon’tknowquitehowtobegin."
"IthinkIcouldhelpyou,"saidMerryquietly,’bytelingyousomeofitmyself."
"Whatdoyoumean?"saidFrodo,lookingathimanxiously."Justthis,mydearoldFrodo:youaremiserable,becauseyoudon’tknowhowtosaygood-bye.
