Page:Writings of Oscar Wilde - Volume 03.djvu/139

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THE FISHERMAN AND HIS SOUL. 113

hands from before his face he said to me : ' This is my house of treasure, and half that is in it is thine, even as I promised to thee. And I will give thee camels and camel drivers, and they shall do thy bidding and take thy share of the treasure to whatever part of the world thou 'desirest to go. And the thing shall be done to- night, for I would not that the Sun, who is my father, should see that there is in my city a man whom I cannot slay.' "But I answered him, 'The gold that is here is thine, and the silver also is thine, and thine are the precious jewels and the things of price. As for me, I have no need of these. Nor shall I take aught from thee but that little ring that thou wearest on the finger of thy hand/ "And the Emperor frowned. 'It is but a ring of lead,' he cried, 'nor has it any value. Therefore take thy half of the treasure and go from my city. ' " 'Nay/ I answered, 'but I will take nought but that leaden ring, for I know what is written within it, and for what purpose.' "And the Emperor trembled, and besought me and said: 'Take all the treasure and go

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