They mounted to the tower, but without any better success; neither in Maria's room nor in Genoveva's did they find any sign of the canary-bird. Ricardo felt a peculiar emotion in entering his lady-love's room, and Marta did not fail to notice it. He became graver and more silent, and began to examine with interest everything there, moving the articles, opening the scent-bottles, and even pulling out the drawers, so that the girl felt obliged to interfere.
"Don't meddle with her things. When Maria comes and sees her things tumbled up, she will be angry."
"And what if she is?" replied the young man, with a touch of asperity.
"The blame will be thrown on me."
"All right; then tell her that it was mine, and that'll settle the matter."
He stepped into the bedroom, lifted the bed-curtains, took up the books from the dressing-table, laid them down again, and finally pulled out the table drawer. In it were a number of articles laid away, but he thrust in his hand, pulling out one more extraordinary than the rest. It was a large leather cross, full of brass brads on one side, and with a cord to attach it to the neck.
"What is this?" he asked, turning it over and over in his hand, with amazement.
"Put it back, put it back! for God's sake, Ricardo! Maria will be very angry."
"Horrors! What an abominable thing! This must be a cilicium."