The archbishop crushed itunwittingly in the hand that held the crosier.The rusty padlocks were broken, and each fell clanking on the floor, andwas brushed away by mailed heels. They passed from room to room withtorches, for the cavern extended far beneath the earth; yet they found notreasure save the jewelled table of Solomon. But for their greatexpectations, this table alone might have proved sufficient to rewardtheir act of daring. Some believed that it had been brought by the Romansfrom Solomon's temple, and from Rome by the Goths and Vandals who sackedthat city and afterwards conquered Spain; but all believed it to besacred, and now saw it to be gorgeous. Some describe it as being of gold,set with precious stones; others, as of gold and silver, making it yellowand white in hue, ornamented with a row of pearls, a row of rubies, andanother row of emeralds. It is generally agreed that it stood on threehundred and sixty feet, each made of a single emerald. Being what it was,the king did not venture to remove it, but left it where it was.Traversing chamber after chamber and finding all empty, they at last foundall passages leading to the inmost apartment, which had a marble urn inthe centre. Yet all eyes presently turned from this urn to a largepainting on the wall which displayed a troop of horsemen in full motion.
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