Хоббит
An Unexpected Party
"AlsoIshouldliketoknowaboutrisks,out-of-pocketexpenses,timerequiredandremuneration,andsoforth" -bywhichhemeant: "WhatamIgoingtogetoutofit? andamIgoingtocomebackalive?"
"Overywell,"saidThorin. "LongagoinmygrandfatherThror’stimeourfamilywasdrivenoutofthefarNorth,andcamebackwithalltheirwealthandtheirtoolstothisMountainonthemap. Ithadbeendiscoveredbymyfarancestor,ThraintheOld,butnowtheyminedandtheytunnelledandtheymadehugerhallsandgreaterworkshops-andinadditionIbelievetheyfoundagooddealofgoldandagreatmanyjewelstoo. Anywaytheygrewimmenselyrichandfamous,andmygrandfatherwasKingundertheMountainagainandtreatedwithgreatreverencebythemortalmen,wholivedtotheSouth,andweregraduallyspreadinguptheRunningRiverasfarasthevalleyovershadowedbytheMountain. TheybuiltthemerrytownofDalethereinthosedays. Kingsusedtosendforoursmiths,andrewardeventheleastskilfulmostrichly. Fatherswouldbegustotaketheirsonsasapprentices,andpayushandsomely,especiallyinfood-supplies,whichweneverbotheredtogroworfindforourselves. Altogetherthoseweregooddaysforus,andthepoorestofushadmoneytospendandtolend,andleisuretomakebeautifulthingsjustforthefunofit, nottospeakofthemostmarvellousandmagicaltoys,thelikeofwhichisnottobefoundintheworldnow-a-days. Somygrandfather’shallsbecamefullofarmourandjewelsandcarvingsandcups,andthetoy-marketofDalewasthewonderoftheNorth.
"Undoubtedlythatwaswhatbroughtthedragon.
