waiting for the hour of midnight to-morrow night to work his will upon you, and to inflict vengeance upon you for all that you have done to spite him for the past thirteen years, giving alms for the sake of the Saviour out of the purse which he himself gave to you, whereas it was not for giving alms he gave it to you, but in the hope that it would cause harm and mischief and misfortune to yourself and to every Christian who should ever get a half-penny of it into his hand."
"I give thanks to the Eternal Father who created you,—and to Christ who redeemed you,—and to the Holy Ghost who sanctified you!" said Shiana. When he had said those words he wondered at himself, because it seemed to him that it was not his own voice that was coming out of his chest or out of his mouth.
"Show me," said she, "that thing I gave you that day you parted with the good young woman for the Saviour's sake."
He drew the jewel out of his bosom and handed it to her.
"It is not as bright as it was that day, but it is not so very bad," said she, and she took the little ball into her hand. Instantly the ball shone up again, in the centre of her palm, just as it had shone the first day, so that Shiana could hardly look at it, and when he did look at it, little blue spots came before his eyes, just as they would to one who would look straight at the sun.
"Here," said the woman. "Put it away again and keep it about you. You will want it to-morrow night." And she handed him back the jewel. He put it away again in his bosom where he had it before.
