Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Treasure Chamber
"Well,"Iasked,breathlesswithinterestasweallwere,"whathappenedtoDaSilvestra?"
Theoldhagstartedatthementionofthename.
"Howknowestthouthedeadman’sname?"sheaskedsharply;andthen,withoutwaitingforananswer,wenton—
"Nonecantellwhathappened;butitcameaboutthatthewhitemanwasfrightened,forheflungdownthegoat-skin,withthestones,andfledoutwithonlytheonestoneinhishand, andthatthekingtook,anditisthestonewhichthou,Macumazahn,didsttakefromTwala’sbrow."
"Havenoneenteredheresince?"Iasked,peeringagaindownthedarkpassage.
"None,mylords. Onlythesecretofthedoorhasbeenkept,andeverykinghasopenedit,thoughhehasnotentered. Thereisasaying,thatthosewhoentertherewilldiewithinamoon,evenasthewhitemandiedinthecaveuponthemountain,whereyefoundhim,Macumazahn, andthereforethekingsdonotenter. Ha!ha!minearetruewords."
Oureyesmetasshesaidit,andIturnedsickandcold. Howdidtheoldhagknowallthesethings?
"Enter,mylords. IfIspeaktruth,thegoat-skinwiththestoneswilllieuponthefloor; andifthereistruthastowhetheritisdeathtoenterhere,thatyewilllearnafterwards. Ha!ha!ha!"andshehobbledthroughthedoorway,bearingthelightwithher; butIconfessthatoncemoreIhesitatedaboutfollowing.
"Oh,confounditall!"saidGood;"heregoes.
