Копи царя Соломона
Umbopa Enters Our Service
"1.Youaretopayallexpenses,andanyivoryorothervaluableswemaygetistobedividedbetweenCaptainGoodandmyself.
"2.Thatyougiveme£500formyservicesonthetripbeforewestart,Iundertakingtoserveyoufaithfullytillyouchoosetoabandontheenterprise,ortillwesucceed,ordisasterovertakesus.
"3.Thatbeforewetrekyouexecuteadeedagreeing,intheeventofmydeathordisablement,topaymyboyHarry,whoisstudyingmedicineoverthereinLondon,atGuy’sHospital,asumof£200ayearforfiveyears, bywhichtimeheoughttobeabletoearnalivingforhimselfifheisworthhissalt. Thatisall,Ithink,andIdaresayyouwillsayquiteenoughtoo."
"No,"answeredSirHenry,"Iacceptthemgladly. Iambentuponthisproject,andwouldpaymorethanthatforyourhelp,consideringthepeculiarandexclusiveknowledgewhichyoupossess."
"PityIdidnotaskit,then,butIwon’tgobackonmyword. AndnowthatIhavegotmytermsIwilltellyoumyreasonsformakingupmymindtogo. Firstofall,gentlemen,Ihavebeenobservingyoubothforthelastfewdays,andifyouwillnotthinkmeimpertinentImaysaythatIlikeyou,andbelievethatweshallcomeupwelltotheyoketogether. Thatissomething,letmetellyou,whenonehasalongjourneylikethisbeforeone.
"Andnowastothejourneyitself,Itellyouflatly,SirHenryandCaptainGood,thatIdonotthinkitprobablewecancomeoutofitalive,thatis,ifweattempttocrosstheSulimanMountains. WhatwasthefateoftheoldDomdaSilvestrathreehundredyearsago? Whatwasthefateofhisdescendanttwentyyearsago? Whathasbeenyourbrother’sfate? Itellyoufrankly,gentlemen,thatastheirfatesweresoIbelieveourswillbe."
