The young man received this advice with a smile which indicated its
refusal.
"It is difficult, sir, to speak of such things in the presence of the one
who is to be the object of our homage. Permit me, however, the liberty to
decide upon the manner in which I will acquit myself of my duty to this
young lady."
"But permit me, signor, to tell you," said the old man, in an offended
tone, "that it does you no honor to reject the advice of a man of
experience, in order to carry out an unimportant fancy. Rashness does not
indicate courage, but rather an absence of good sense."
"Father," exclaimed Mary, in a supplicating tone, "be not angry with
Signor Geronimo; he will incur no danger."
"Foolish confidence!" said the old man. "Why should Geronimo think himself
less exposed to danger than others? That Geronimo should be rash is
excusable; but, Mary, you deserve a severe reprimand for encouraging your
friend in his perilous design."
The young girl bowed her head at this reproof of her father, and murmured
as if to excuse herself: "Geronimo has a relic, father."
This revelation embarrassed the young man, and he glanced reproachfully at
Mary.
She said, caressingly: "Don't be displeased, Geronimo; show the relic to my father, and he will
then know why you do not fear that any accident will happen to you."
The young man felt that he could not refuse Mary's request. He drew from
under his doublet an object suspended on a steel chain, and, approaching
Mr. Van de Werve, he placed it in his hand.
It was a flat medal of greenish copper, on which were engraven unknown
letters and signs. A cross between two bent sabres, and beneath them a
crescent, filled up the centre of the medal. At the foot of the cross was
a gray stone, rudely inlaid. The whole was rough and heavy.
Mr. Van de Werve examined this medal attentively for some time; he turned
it over and over, as though he sought to comprehend the signification of
this singular emblem.
"A relic!" he murmured. "Here are two cimeters, a crescent, and cabalistic
characters. It is a Mohammedan talisman, and, perhaps, an emblem shocking
to our holy religion!"
"You are certainly mistaken, sir," replied Geronimo.
"Is not the cross placed above the crescent, and would not that signify
that the faith of Christ has triumphed over the doctrines of Mahomet?"
"But why do you call it a relic?"