burnt, which wall he was knocking down with a pick-axe to allow water
to flow down an irrigation channel on his garden. Presently a person
who wore a turban and was girt about with a large scimitar, rode by,
and to him the man showed, and finally presented the stone, which the
Saracen placed in the folds of his turban.

The next scene was of this man engaged in battle with a knight clad in
mail. The battle was a very fine one, which Godfrey described with much
gusto. It ended in the knight killing the Eastern man and hacking off
his head with a sword. This violent proceeding disarranged the turban
out of which fell the black stone. The knight picked it up and hid it
about him. Next Godfrey saw this same knight, grown into an old man and
being borne on a bier to burial, clad in the same armour that he had
worn in the battle. Upon his breast hung the black stone which had now
a hole bored through the top of it.

Lastly there came a picture of the old sexton finding the talisman
among the bones of the knight, and giving it to himself, Godfrey, then
a small boy, after which everything passed away.

"I guess that either our young friend here has got the vision, or that
he will make a first-class novelist," said Colonel Josiah Smith. "Any
way, if you care to part with that talisman, Miss Ogilvy, I will be
glad to give you five hundred dollars for it on the chance of his
integrity."

She smiled and shook her head, stretching out her hand to recover the
Gnostic charm.

"Be silent, Brother Josiah Smith," exclaimed Madame Riennes, angrily.
"If this were imposture, should I not have discovered it? It is good
vision--psychometry is the right term--though of a humbler order such
as might be expected from a beginner. Still, there is hope, there is
hope. Let us see, now. Young gentleman, be so good as to look me in the
eye."

Much against his will Godfrey found himself bound to obey, and looked
her "in the eye." A few moments later he felt dizzy, and after that he
remembered no more.

When Godfrey awoke again the curtain was drawn, the blinds were pulled
up and the butler was bringing in tea. Miss Ogilvy sat by his side,
looking at him rather anxiously, while the others were conversing
together in a somewhat excited fashion.

"It is splendid, splendid!" Madame was saying. "We have discovered a
pearl beyond price, a great treasure. Hush! he awakes."

Godfrey, who experienced a curious feeling of exhaustion and of
emptiness