brothers."

But the old man said to him, sighing, "You will no sooner be the
master of all these riches than you will abuse them. It is not an easy
talent to know how to be rich; and I shall perhaps be the first to
repent having done you this service."

"What a discourse you hold to me!" cried Dakianos. "What shall I owe
the obligation to you of procuring me such treasures, shall you make
my fortune, and do you think I shall be failing in my return? An
infidel would not be guilty of such ingratitude, and I cannot so much
as harbour a thought of it. I swear, then, to look upon you as my
father, and to share equally all the riches with you; or, rather, you
shall give me what share you please, and I shall always be content."

These protestations would not much have reassured the old man, but
avarice--the only passion which is felt at a certain age--overcame his
reflections, and he consented to their departure. They arrived at the
place where Dakianos had found the tablet of gold. The old man
commanded him to dig the ground about twenty feet round. They soon
discovered a gate of steel, and the old man told Dakianos to open it.
Dakianos obeyed with such eager haste that he broke the door open with
his foot, though the key was in the lock. They both of them entered
into a vault, without being discouraged by the great obscurity which
reigned there. After having gone some steps, a faint light enabled
them to distinguish objects. The farther they advanced, the more the
light increased. They found themselves at last before a large and
magnificent palace, the seven gates of which were closed, but the keys
were fastened by them. Dakianos took that of the first gate, and
opened it.

The first apartment enclosed ornaments and habits of the greatest
magnificence, and above all, girdles of solid gold, adorned with
jewels. They opened the second, which they found filled with sabres,
the hilts and sheaths of which were covered with the most precious
stones. The third was adorned with an infinite number of cuirasses,
coats of mail, and helmets of gold of different fashions, and all the
arms were enriched with the most magnificent jewels. The fourth
enclosed the most superb horse furniture, answerable to the
magnificence of the arms. The fifth offered to their sight piles of
gold and silver ingots. The sixth was full of gold coin; and it was
scarcely possible to enter into the seventh, it was so heaped with
sapphires, with amethysts,