DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11636#0408
374 XP.AVB.LS IN UPPER
of marble. This janisary, who had for a long
time been attached to the service of the French,
and who was accustomed to accompany them,
knew that gold was not the object of their re-
searches in Egypt? and did all he could to unde-
ceive the Aga, but it was in vain ; the Mameluc
would not believe that a stone could have value in
our eyes; and the questions which- he asked on
this subject were extremely diverting.
At last the pyramid arrived from Aboukir. When
it was disembarked at the port of Rossctta, it at-
tracted a crowd of the curious. Exclamations on
its beauty resounded on every side. This was in
their estimation a precious stone, in the real sense
of that expression, and this was because it shone
in the sun. They could not refrain from uttering
a sentiment of respect towards the Francs, who
had possessed the sagacity to discover a stone so
worthy of admiration.
There was every reason to believe that the ab-
surd conversation of so many stupid admirers would
reach the ears of the Aga, and that they would
confirm him in his ideas of treasure. M. Forneti
and 1 agreed to leave the marble on the quay, and
to assume the appearance of thinking no longer
about it. However, the Aga, who had had suffi-
cient time to convince himself that he had taken
so much trouble about what was, in reality, nothing
but
of marble. This janisary, who had for a long
time been attached to the service of the French,
and who was accustomed to accompany them,
knew that gold was not the object of their re-
searches in Egypt? and did all he could to unde-
ceive the Aga, but it was in vain ; the Mameluc
would not believe that a stone could have value in
our eyes; and the questions which- he asked on
this subject were extremely diverting.
At last the pyramid arrived from Aboukir. When
it was disembarked at the port of Rossctta, it at-
tracted a crowd of the curious. Exclamations on
its beauty resounded on every side. This was in
their estimation a precious stone, in the real sense
of that expression, and this was because it shone
in the sun. They could not refrain from uttering
a sentiment of respect towards the Francs, who
had possessed the sagacity to discover a stone so
worthy of admiration.
There was every reason to believe that the ab-
surd conversation of so many stupid admirers would
reach the ears of the Aga, and that they would
confirm him in his ideas of treasure. M. Forneti
and 1 agreed to leave the marble on the quay, and
to assume the appearance of thinking no longer
about it. However, the Aga, who had had suffi-
cient time to convince himself that he had taken
so much trouble about what was, in reality, nothing
but