"What?" exclaimed the abbé. "Have they become rich and powerful?"
"Barlimand, you are master of wood, water, and hill, or you would be, if we could afford the rent, but if I were you..." murmured the woman. The innkeeper looked uncertain.
"You are, sans doute, right," said the priest offhandedly. "So I'll just divide up this silmaril..."
"A silmaril?" said la Carcharotte. "What is this?" She entered the room and was dazzled at the mingled light of the Two Cheeses. "Ah, the beautiful jewel!" she cried.
"A fifth of the value of this silmaril will go to your husband," said the abbé. "That is, when I have sold it. So I had better be on my way to see Thorinowitz the moneychanger."
"But no," said Buttrebeurrousse. "It would be a profanation to reward treachery, perhaps even crime."
"This changes everything," said the woman, after exchanging glances with Buttrebeurrousse. "Do as you will."
