"When the Queen of heaven
Descended to the earth,
Her feet rested on this stone."
"Then the Holy Virgin has actually placed her feet on this stone?" I asked.
"On this very stone," he replied; and, thrusting a finger between the strands of the iron net, he touched the stone, kissed his finger, made the sign of the cross, and turned toward me as if to say, "Now it is your turn."
"My turn?" I replied. "Oh, really, my friend, I cannot do it."
"Why?"
"Because I do not feel myself worthy to touch that sacred stone."
The guide understood, and, looking hard at me with a serious aspect, he asked, "You do not believe?"
I looked at a pilaster. Then the old man made a sign for me to follow, and started toward a corner of the church, murmuring with an air of sadness, "Cadanno es dueño de su alma" (Every man is master of his soul).