Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Treasure Chamber
"Ah,Macumazahn,thewatcherbynight,"wasthemockinganswer, "yewhodwellinthestars,doyenotknowthatsomelivelong,andthatsomehaveeyeswhichcanseethroughrock?Ha!ha!ha!"
"Lookinthatcorner,Curtis,"Isaid,indicatingthespotGagoolhadpointedout.
"Hullo,youfellows,"hecried,"here’sarecess.Greatheavens!seehere."
Wehurrieduptowherehewasstandinginanook,shapedsomethinglikeasmallbowwindow.Againstthewallofthisrecesswereplacedthreestonechests,eachabouttwofeetsquare. Twowerefittedwithstonelids,thelidofthethirdrestedagainstthesideofthechest,whichwasopen.
"See!"herepeatedhoarsely,holdingthelampovertheopenchest. Welooked,andforamomentcouldmakenothingout,onaccountofasilverysheenwhichdazzledus. Whenoureyesgrewusedtoitwesawthatthechestwasthree-partsfullofuncutdiamonds,mostofthemofconsiderablesize. Stooping,Ipickedsomeup. Yes,therewasnodoubtofit,therewastheunmistakablesoapyfeelaboutthem.
IfairlygaspedasIdroppedthem.
"Wearetherichestmeninthewholeworld,"Isaid. "MonteChristowasafooltous."
"Weshallfloodthemarketwithdiamonds,"saidGood.
"Gottogetthemtherefirst,"suggestedSirHenry.
Westoodstillwithpalefacesandstaredateachother,thelanterninthemiddleandtheglimmeringgemsbelow,asthoughwewereconspiratorsabouttocommitacrime,insteadofbeing,aswethought,themostfortunatemenonearth.
