I walk as in
a cloud, concealed from mortal sight. You are the first to accost me
for now three hundred years. I behold the reason. I see on your finger
the seal-ring of Solomon the wise, which is proof against all
enchantment. With you it remains to deliver me from this awful
dungeon, or to leave me to keep guard here for another hundred years."
The student listened to this tale in mute wonderment. He had heard
many tales of treasure shut up under strong enchantment in the
vaults of the Alhambra, but had treated them as fables. He now felt
the value of the seal-ring, which had, in a manner, been given to
him by St. Cyprian. Still, though armed by so potent a talisman, it
was an awful thing to find himself tete-a-tete in such a place with an
enchanted soldier, who, according to the laws of nature, ought to have
been quietly in his grave for nearly three centuries.
A personage of this kind, however, was quite out of the ordinary
run, and not to be trifled with, and he assured him he might rely upon
his friendship and good will to do every thing in his power for his
deliverance.
"I trust to a motive more powerful than friendship," said the
soldier.
He pointed to a ponderous iron coffer, secured by locks inscribed
with Arabic characters. "That coffer," said he, "contains countless
treasure in gold and jewels, and precious stones. Break the magic
spell by which I am enthralled, and one half of this treasure shall be
thine.
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