Копи царя Соломона

           Perhaps,Ithought,itwasfromthisverystorethatSolomondrewtherawmaterialforhis"greatthroneofivory,"ofwhich"therewasnotthelikemadeinanykingdom." 

           Ontheoppositesideofthechamberwereaboutascoreofwoodenboxes,somethinglikeMartini–Henryammunitionboxes,onlyratherlarger,andpaintedred. 

           "Therearethediamonds,"criedI;"bringthelight." 

           SirHenrydidso,holdingitclosetothetopbox,ofwhichthelid,renderedrottenbytimeeveninthatdryplace,appearedtohavebeensmashedin,probablybyDaSilvestrahimself. PushingmyhandthroughtheholeinthelidIdrewitoutfull,notofdiamonds,butofgoldpieces,ofashapethatnoneofushadseenbefore,andwithwhatlookedlikeHebrewcharactersstampeduponthem. 

           "Ah!"Isaid,replacingthecoin,"weshan’tgobackempty-handed,anyhow. Theremustbeacoupleofthousandpiecesineachbox,andthereareeighteenboxes. Isupposethiswasthemoneytopaytheworkmenandmerchants." 

           "Well,"putinGood,"Ithinkthatisthelot;Idon’tseeanydiamonds,unlesstheoldPortugueseputthemallintohisbag." 

           "Letmylordslookyonderwhereitisdarkest,iftheywouldfindthestones,"saidGagool,interpretingourlooks. "Theremylordswillfindanook,andthreestonechestsinthenook,twosealedandoneopen." 

           BeforetranslatingthistoSirHenry,whocarriedthelight,Icouldnotresistaskinghowsheknewthesethings,ifnoonehadenteredtheplacesincethewhiteman,generationsago.