Хоббит
A Thief in the Night
NowIwillmakeyouanoffer!!"
"Letushearit!"theysaid.
"Youmayseeit!"saidhe."Itisthis!"andhedrewforththeArkenstone,andthrewawaythewrapping.
TheElvenkinghimself,whoseeyeswereusedtothingsofwonderandbeauty,stoodupinamazement.EvenBardgazedmarvellingatitinsilence.Itwasasifaglobehadbeenfilledwithmoonlightandhungbeforetheminanetwovenoftheglintoffrostystars.
"ThisistheArkenstoneofThrain,"saidBilbo,"theHeartoftheMountain;anditisalsotheheartofThorin.Hevaluesitaboveariverofgold.Igiveittoyou.Itwillaidyouinyourbargaining."ThenBilbo,notwithoutashudder,notwithoutaglanceoflonging,handedthemarvellousstonetoBard,andhehelditinhishand,asthoughdazed."Buthowisityourstogive?"heaskedatlastwithaneffort."Owell!"saidthehobbituncomfortably."Itisn’texactly;but,well,Iamwillingtoletitstandagainstallmyclaim,don’tyouknow.Imaybeaburglar-orsotheysay:personallyIneverreallyfeltlikeone-butIamanhonestone,Ihope,moreorless.AnywayIamgoingbacknow,andthedwarvescandowhattheyliketome.Ihopeyouwillfindituseful."TheElvenkinglookedatBilbowithanewwonder.
"BilboBaggins!"hesaid."Youaremoreworthytowearthearmourofelf-princesthanmanythathavelookedmorecomelyinit.ButIwonderifThorinOakenshieldwillseeitso.Ihavemoreknowledgeofdwarvesingeneralthanyouhaveperhaps.Iadviseyoutoremainwithus,andhereyoushallbehonouredandthricewelcome."
