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The smell of balsam was heavy in the air,
空氣中彌漫著香精的氣味，
and Hafid's sensitive old nose
海菲敏感的鼻子
detected the presence of sweet plums apples cheese, and ginger.
還聞到了香甜的李子、蘋果、乳酪和生姜的味道。
Finally he turned to Erasmus.
然后，他轉(zhuǎn)向伊拉瑪：
"Old friend, how much wealth is there now accumulated in our treasury?"
“老伙計(jì)，咱們的金庫里現(xiàn)在有多少現(xiàn)款？”
Erasmus paled, "Everything master?"
“所有的？”
"Everything."
“所有的。”
"I have not studied the numbers recently,
“我最近沒有盤點(diǎn)，
but I would estimate there is in excess of seven million gold talents."
不過總在七百萬金幣以上?！?/div>
"And were all the goods in all my warehouses and emporiums converted into gold, how much would they bring?"
“倉庫里的現(xiàn)貨，折合成金幣是多少？”
"Our inventory is not yet complete for this season, sire,
“老爺，這一季的貨還沒有到齊，
but I would calculate a minimum of another three million talents."
不過我想少說也合個三百萬金幣。”
Hafid nodded,
海菲點(diǎn)了點(diǎn)頭。
"Purchase no more goods.
“不要再進(jìn)貨了。
Institute immediately whatever plans, are required
馬上把所有的現(xiàn)貨賣了，
to sell everything that is mine, and convert all of it to gold."
換成金子。”
The bookkeeper's mouth opened,
老總管目瞪口呆，
but no sound came forth.
一句話也說不出來。
He fell back, as if struck,
他向被人打中似地往后退了幾步，
and when finally he could speak the words came with effort,
好不容易才說道：
"I do not understand, sire.
“老爺，您把我弄糊涂了，
This has been our most profitable year.
我們今年的財(cái)運(yùn)最好，
Every emporium reports an increase in sales over the previous season.
各大商店都說上個季度銷售量又增加了。
Even the Roman legions are now our customers,
就連羅馬軍方都向我們買貨，
for did you not sell the Procurator in Jerusalem
您不是在兩個禮拜之內(nèi)，
two hundred Arabian stallions within the fortnight?
賣給耶路撒冷的總督兩百匹阿拉伯牡馬嗎？
Forgive my boldness,
請您原諒我，
for seldom have I questioned your orders,
老爺，我一向很少頂撞您，
but this command I cannot comprehend. .. "
但是這一回，我實(shí)在弄不明白，您為什么要......”
Hafid smiled, and gently grasped Erasmus' hand.
海菲微微一笑，和藹地拉著老伊的手，
"My trusted comrade,
“老伊，
is your memory of sufficient strength, to recall the first command you received from me, when you entered my employ many years ago?"
你還記不記得好多年前你剛來的時候，我要你做的第一件事？”
Erasmus frowned momentarily, and then his face brightened.
伊拉瑪皺了皺眉，然后眼睛突然一亮，
"I was enjoined by you to remove, each year, half the profit from our treasury
“你吩咐我每年
and dispense it to the poor."
要把所賺的一半分給窮人?！?/p>
