Таємничий острів

           Thatcofferyondercontainsdiamondsofthevalueofmanymillions,mostofthemmementoesofthetimewhen,husbandandfather,Ithoughthappinesspossibleforme,andacollectionofpearlsgatheredbymyfriendsandmyselfinthedepthsoftheocean.Ofthistreasureatafutureday,youmaymakegooduse.Inthehandsofsuchmenasyourselfandyourcomrades,CaptainHarding,moneywillneverbeasourceofdanger.FromonhighIshallstillparticipateinyourenterprises,andIfearnotbutthattheywillprosper."

           Afterafewmoments’repose,necessitatedbyhisextremeweakness,CaptainNemocontinued,—

           "To-morrowyouwilltakethecoffer,youwillleavethesaloon,ofwhichyouwillclosethedoor;thenyouwillascendontothedeckofthe‘Nautilus,’andyouwilllowerthemainhatchsoasentirelytoclosethevessel."

           "Itshallbedone,captain,"answeredCyrusHarding.

           "Good.Youwillthenembarkinthecanoewhichbroughtyouhither;but,beforeleavingthe‘Nautilus,’gotothesternandthereopentwolargestop-cockswhichyouwillfinduponthewater-line.Thewaterwillpenetrateintothereservoirs,andthe‘Nautilus’willgraduallysinkbeneaththewatertoreposeatthebottomoftheabyss."

           AndcomprehendingagestureofCyrusHarding,thecaptainadded,—

           "Fearnothing!Youwillbutburyacorpse!"

           NeitherCyrusHardingnorhiscompanionsventuredtoofferanyobservationtoCaptainNemo.Hehadexpressedhislastwishes,andtheyhadnothingtodobuttoconformtothem.