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'How long have you known all this？' asked Frodo again。
'Known？' said Gandalf。 'I have known much that only the Wise know； Frodo。
But if you mean 〃known about _this_ ring〃； well； I still do not _know；_onemight say。 There is a last test to make。 But I no longer doubt my guess。
'When did I first begin to guess？' he mused； searching back in memory。
'Let me see – it was in the year that the White Council drove the dark powerfrom Mirkwood； just before the Battle of Five Armies； that Bilbo found hisring。 A shadow fell on my heart then； though I did not know yet what I feared。
I wondered often how Gollum came by a Great Ring； as plainly it was – that atleast was clear from the first。 Then I heard Bilbo's strange story of how hehad 〃won〃 it； and I could not believe it。 When I at last got the truth out ofhim； I saw at once that he had been trying to put his claim to the ring beyonddoubt。 Much like Gollum with his 〃birthday present〃。 The lies were too muchalike for my fort。 Clearly the ring had an unwholesome power that set towork on its keeper at once。 That was the first real warning I had that all wasnot well。 I told Bilbo often that such rings were better left unused； but heresented it； and soon got angry。 There was little else that I could do。 I
could not take it from him without doing greater harm； and I had no right todo so anyway。 I could only watch and wait。 I might perhaps have consultedSaruman the White； but something always held me back。'
'Who is he？' asked Frodo。 I have never heard of him before。'
'Maybe not；' answered Gandalf。 'Hobbits are； or were； no concern of his。
Yet he is great among the Wise。 He is the chief of my order and the head ofthe Council。 His knowledge is deep； but his pride has grown with it； and hetakes ill any meddling。 The lore of the Elven…rings； great and small； is hisprovince。 He has long studied it； seeking the lost secrets of their making；
but when the Rings were debated in the Council； all that he would reveal to usof his ring…lore told against my fears。 So my doubt slept – but uneasily。
Still I watched and I waited。
'And all seemed well with Bilbo。 And the years passed。 Yes； they passed；
and they seemed not to touch him。 He showed no signs of age。 The shadow fellon me again。 But I said to myself： 〃After all he es of a long…lived familyon his mother's side。 There is time yet。 Wait！〃
'And I waited。 Until that night when he left this house。 He said and didthings then that filled me with a fear that no words of Saruman could allay。 Iknew at last that something dark and deadly was at work。 And I have spent mostof the years since then in finding out the truth of it。'
'There wasn't any permanent harm done； was there？' asked Frodo anxiously。
'He would get all right in time； wouldn't he？ Be able to rest in peace； Imean？'
'He felt better at once；' said Gandalf。 'But there is only one Power inthis world that knows all about the Rings and their effects； and as far as Iknow there is no Power in the world that knows all about hobbits。 Among theWise I am the only one that goes in for hobbit…lore： an obscure branch ofknowledge； but full of surprises。 Soft as butter they can be； and yetsometimes as tough as old tree…roots。 I think it likely that some would resistthe Rings far longer than most of the Wise would believe。 I don't think youneed worry about Bilbo。
'Of course； he possessed the ring for many years； and used it； so itmight take a long while for the influence to wear off – before it was safe forhim to see it again； for instance。 Otherwise； he might live on for years；
quite happily： just stop as he was when he parted with it。 For he gave it upin the end of his own accord： an important point。 No； I was not troubled aboutdear Bilbo any more； once he had let the thing go。 It is for _you_ that I feelresponsible。
'Ever since Bilbo left I have been deeply concerned about you； and aboutall these charming； absurd； helpless hobbits。 It would be a grievous blow tothe world； if the Dark Power overcame the Shire； if all your kind； jolly；
stupid Bolgers； Hornblowers； Boffins； Bracegirdles； and the rest； not tomention the ridiculous Bagginses； became enslaved。'
Frodo shuddered。 'But why should we be？' he asked。 'And why should hewant such slaves？'
'To tell you the truth；' replied Gandalf； 'I believe that hitherto –
_hitherto；_mark you – he has entirely overlooked the existence of hobbits。 Youshould be thankful。 But your safety has passed。 He does not need you – he hasmany more useful servants – but he won't forget you again。 And hobbits asmiserable slaves would please him far more than hobbits happy and free。 Thereis such a thing as malice and revenge。'
'Revenge？' said Frodo。 'Revenge for what？ I still don't understand whatall this has to do with Bilbo and myself； and our ring。'
'It has everything to do with it；' said Gandalf。 'You do not know thereal peril yet； but you shall。 I was not sure of it myself when I was lasthere； but the time has e to speak。 Give me the ring for a moment。'
Frodo took it from his breeches…pocket； where it was clasped to a chainthat hung from his belt。 He unfastened it and handed it slowly to the wizard。
It felt suddenly very heavy； as if either it or Frodo himself was in some way
reluctant for Gandalf to touch it。
Gandalf held it up。 It looked to be made of pure and solid gold。 'Can yousee any markings on it？' he asked。
'No；' said Frodo。 'There are none。 It is quite plain； and it never showsa scratch or sign of wear。'
'Well then； look！' To Frodo's astonishment and distress the wizard threwit suddenly into the middle of a glowing corner of the fire。 Frodo gave a cryand groped for the tongs； but Gandalf held him back。
'Wait！' he said in a manding voice； giving Frodo a quick look fromunder his bristling brows。
No apparent change came over the ring。 After a while Gandalf got up；
closed the shutters outside the window； and drew the curtains。 The room becamedark and silent； though the clack of Sam's shears； now nearer to the windows；
could still be heard faintly from the garden。 For a moment the wizard stoodlooking at the fire； then he stooped and removed the ring to the hearth withthe tongs； and at once pic