--My
sable friend, thou art an expounder of mysteries, saith the
illustrious Soldan--now would I give thee thine own weight in
gold, if, by raising one still blacker than thyself or by what
other means thou wilt, thou couldst show me the thief who did
mine honour that wrong. What sayest thou, ha?"
The mute seemed desirous to speak, but uttered only that
imperfect sound proper to his melancholy condition; then folded
his arms, looked on the King with an eye of intelligence, and
nodded in answer to his question.
"How!" said Richard, with joyful impatience. "Wilt thou
undertake to make discovery in this matter?"
The Nubian slave repeated the same motion.
"But how shall we understand each other?" said the King. "Canst
thou write, good fellow?"
The slave again nodded in assent.
"Give him writing-tools," said the King. "They were readier in
my father's tent than mine; but they be somewhere about, if this
scorching climate have not dried up the ink.--Why, this fellow is
a jewel--a black diamond, Neville.
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