“Yes,” said the young man, “and ten thousand times more than I say.”
“Then, as you love me, I beg one boon on you. It is that you show me
this treasure of which I have heard so much, and which we are to enjoy
together.”
The young man was drunk with happiness. “Thou shalt see it all,” said
he.
Then, for the first time, the Talisman spoke without being questioned.
“Fool!” it cried; “wilt thou not be advised?”
“Be silent,” said the young man. “Six times, vile thing, you would have
betrayed me. Six times you would have deprived me of joys that should
have been mine, and each was greater than that which went before. Shall
I now listen the seventh time? Now,” said he to the queen, “I will show
you our treasure.” He called aloud, “Zadok, Zadok, Zadok!”
Instantly the ground shook beneath their feet, the dust rose in clouds,
and Zadok appeared, as black as ink, and with eyes that shone like coals
of fire.
“I command you,” said the young man, “to carry the queen and myself to
the garden where my treasure lies hidden.”
Zadok laughed aloud. “I hear thee and obey thee, master,” said he.
He seized the queen and the young man by the girdle, and in an instant
transported them to the garden and to the treasure-house.
“Thou art where thou commandest to be,” said the Demon.
The young man immediately drew a circle upon the ground with his
finger-tip. He struck his heel upon the circle. The ground opened,
disclosing the steps leading downward. The young man descended the steps
with the queen behind him, and behind them both came the Demon Zadok.
The young man opened the door of adamant and entered the first of the
vaulted rooms.
When the queen saw the huge basin full of silver treasure, her cheeks
and her forehead flushed as red as fire.
They went into the next room, and when the queen saw the basin of gold
her face turned as white as ashes.
They went into the third room, and when the queen saw the basin of
jewels and the six golden statues her face turned as blue as lead, and
her eyes shone green like a snake’s.
“Are you content?” asked the young man.
The queen looked about her. “No!” cried she, hoarsely, pointing to the
closed door that had never been opened, and whereon were engraved these
words:
“Behold! Beyond this door is that alone which shall satisfy all thy
desires.”
“No!” cried she. “What is it that lies behind yon door?”
“I do not know,” said the young man.
“Then open the door, and let me see what lies within.”
“I cannot open the door,” said he. “How can I open the door, seeing that
there is no lock nor key to it?”
“If thou dost not open the door,” said the queen, “all is over between
thee and me. So do as I bid thee, or leave me forever.”
They had both forgotten that the Demon Zadok was there. Then the young
man bethought himself of the Talisman of Solomon. “Tell me, O Talisman,”
said he, “how shall I open yonder door?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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