Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Treasure Chamber
Itwouldhavebeenjustthejestthatherevilmindwouldhaverejoicedin,theideaofthethreewhitemen,whom,forsomereasonofherown,shehadalwayshated,slowlyperishingofthirstandhungerinthecompanyofthetreasuretheyhadcoveted. NowIsawthepointofthatsneerofhersabouteatinganddrinkingthediamonds. ProbablysomebodyhadtriedtoservethepooroldDominthesameway,whenheabandonedtheskinfullofjewels.
"Thiswillneverdo,"saidSirHenryhoarsely;"thelampwillsoongoout. Letusseeifwecan’tfindthespringthatworkstherock."
Wesprangforwardwithdesperateenergy,and,standinginabloodyooze,begantofeelupanddownthedoorandthesidesofthepassage. Butnoknoborspringcouldwediscover.
"Dependonit,"Isaid,"itdoesnotworkfromtheinside; ifitdidGagoolwouldnothaveriskedtryingtocrawlunderneaththestone. Itwastheknowledgeofthisthatmadehertrytoescapeatallhazards,curseher."
"Atallevents,"saidSirHenry,withahardlittlelaugh,"retributionwasswift;herswasalmostasawfulanendasoursislikelytobe. Wecandonothingwiththedoor; letusgobacktothetreasureroom."
Weturnedandwent, andaswepasseditIperceivedbytheunfinishedwallacrossthepassagethebasketoffoodwhichpoorFoulatahadcarried. Itookitup,andbroughtitwithmetotheaccursedtreasurechamberthatwastobeourgrave. ThenwereturnedandreverentlyboreinFoulata’scorpse,layingitonthefloorbytheboxesofcoin.
