Хоббит

           Nobladecanpierceme."

           "Imighthaveguessedit,"saidBilbo."Trulytherecan;nowherebefoundtheequalofLordSmaugtheImpenetrable.Whatmagnificencetopossessawaistcoatoffinediamonds!"

           "Yes,itisrareandwonderful,indeed,"saidSmaugabsurdlypleased.Hedidnotknowthatthehobbithadalreadycaughtaglimpseofhispeculiarunder-coveringonhispreviousvisit,andwasitchingforacloserviewforreasonsofhisown.Thedragonrolledover."Look!"hesaid."Whatdoyousaytothat?"

           "Dazzlinglymarvellous!Perfect!Flawless!Staggering!"exclaimedBilboaloud,butwhathethoughtinsidewas:"Oldfool!Whythereisalargepatchinthehollowofhisleftbreastasbareasasnailoutofitsshell!"AfterhehadseenthatMr.Baggins’oneideawastogetaway."Well,IreallymustnotdetainYourMagnificenceanylonger,"hesaid,"orkeepyoufrommuchneededrest.Poniestakesomecatching,Ibelieve,afteralongstart.Andsodoburglars,"headdedasapartingshot,ashedartedbackandfledupthetunnel.

           Itwasanunfortunateremark,forthedragonspoutedterrificflamesafterhim,andfastthoughhespeduptheslope,hehadnotgonenearlyfarenoughtobecomfortablebeforetheghastlyheadofSmaugwasthrustagainsttheopeningbehind.Luckilythewholeheadandjawscouldnotsqueezein,butthenostrilssentforthfireandvapourtopursuehim,andhewasnearlyovercome,andstumbledblindlyoningreatpainandfear.