Learned doctors of a lamassery do not beg , but the lama was an enthusiast in this quest . ` Be it so , ' said the Curator , smiling . ` Suffer me now to acquire merit . We be craftsmen together , thou and I . Here is a new book of white English paper : here be sharpened pencils two and three -- thick and thin , all good for a scribe . Now lend me thy spectacles . ' The Curator looked through them . They were heavily scratched , but the power was almost exactly that of his own pair , which he slid into the lama 's hand , saying : ` Try these . ' ' A feather ! A very feather upon the face . ' The old man turned his head delightedly and wrinkled up his nose . ` How scarcely do I feel them ! How clearly do I see ! ' ` They be bilaur -- crystal -- and will never scratch . May they help thee to thy River , for they are thine . ' ' I will take them and the pencils and the white note-book , ' said the lama , ` as a sign of friendship between priest and priest -- and now -- ' He fumbled at his belt , detached the open-work iron pincers , and laid it on the Curator 's table . ` That is for a memory between thee and me -- my pencase . It is something old -- even as I am . ' It was a piece of ancient design , Chinese , of an iron that is not smelted these days ; and the collector 's heart in the Curator 's bosom had gone out to it from the first . For no persuasion would the lama resume his gift .
` When I return , having found the River , I will bring thee a written picture of the Padma Samthora such as I used to make on silk at the XXXXX .
Chinese Curator English days first lama lamassery note-book pencase pincers