Копи царя Соломона
The Legend of Solomon’s Mines
Nowbeoff,youidlefellow,thewagonisnearlyoutofsight.’
"Jimtookthenoteandwent,andthatisallIknowaboutyourbrother,SirHenry;butIammuchafraid—"
"Mr.Quatermain,"saidSirHenry,"Iamgoingtolookformybrother;IamgoingtotracehimtoSuliman’sMountains,andoverthemifnecessary,tillIfindhim,oruntilIknowthatheisdead. Willyoucomewithme?"
Iam,asIthinkIhavesaid,acautiousman,indeedatimidone,andthissuggestionfrightenedme. Itseemedtomethattoundertakesuchajourneywouldbetogotocertaindeath,andputtingotherconsiderationsaside,asIhadasontosupport,Icouldnotaffordtodiejustthen.
"No,thankyou,SirHenry,IthinkIhadrathernot,"Ianswered."Iamtoooldforwild-goosechasesofthatsort,andweshouldonlyenduplikemypoorfriendSilvestre. Ihaveasondependentonme,soIcannotaffordtoriskmylifefoolishly."
BothSirHenryandCaptainGoodlookedverydisappointed.
"Mr.Quatermain,"saidtheformer,"Iamwelloff,andIambentuponthisbusiness. Youmayputtheremunerationforyourservicesatwhateverfigureyoulikeinreason,anditshallbepaidovertoyoubeforewestart. Moreover,Iwillarrangeintheeventofanythinguntowardhappeningtousortoyou,thatyoursonshallbesuitablyprovidedfor. YouwillseefromthisofferhownecessaryIthinkyourpresence. Alsoifbychanceweshouldreachthisplace,andfinddiamonds,theyshallbelongtoyouandGoodequally. Idonotwantthem.
