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There is a rajah in the northern provinces who has much wealth, though his lands are small.
我們印度北部有一個土王，他的領土雖小，財產卻很豐富。
Much has come to him from his father, and more still he has set by himself,
他的財產一半是他父親傳下來的，一半是由他自己搜括來的。
for he is of a low nature and hoards his gold rather than spend it.
他嗜財如命而又吝嗇非常。
When the troubles broke out he would be friends both with the lion and the tiger
亂起以后，這土王聽到白人慘遭屠殺，
with the sepoy and with the Company's raj.
一面附和叛兵向白人抵抗，
Soon, however, it seemed to him that the white men's day was come,
可又怕白人一旦得手，自身遭到不利。
for through all the land he could hear of nothing but of their death and their overthrow.
遲疑好久，不能決定。
Yet, being a careful man, he made such plans that, come what might,
最后他想出一個兩全之策：
half at least of his treasure should be left to him.
他把所有的財產分做兩份，
That which was in gold and silver he kept by him in the vaults of his palace,
凡是金銀錢幣都放在他宮中的保險柜里；
but the most precious stones and the choicest pearls that he had he put in an iron box
凡是珠寶鉆石另放在一個鐵箱里，
and sent it by a trusty servant, who, under the guise of a merchant,
差一個扮作商人的親信
should take it to the fort at Agra, there to lie until the land is at peace.
帶到阿格拉碉堡來藏匿。
Thus, if the rebels won he would have his money,
如果叛兵得到勝利，就保住了金銀錢幣；
but if the Company conquered, his jewels would be saved to him.
如果白人得勝，金錢雖失，還有鉆石珠寶可以保全。
Having thus divided his hoard, he threw himself into the cause of the sepoys,
他把財產這樣劃分以后就投入了叛黨
since they were strong upon his borders.
因為他的邊界上的叛兵實力很強。
By his doing this, mark you, sahib, his property becomes the due of those who have been true to their salt.
先生你試想，他的財產是不是應當歸到始終盡忠于一方的人的手里。
This pretended merchant, who travels under the name of Achmet,
這個被派來的喬裝商人化名阿奇麥特，
is now in the city of Agra and desires to gain his way into the fort.
現在阿格拉城內，他準備潛入堡內。
