“And you think all this is a lie,” he bawled, “just because this priest wove a little religion into his message? And who are we to say that it is not true? Have we been behind that wall of rock where these people remain either alive or dead? How then can we decide what is there or has been there? It will be time enough to say what exists or does not exist when we have made examination.”
Now did one ever hear such nonsense? There may be a queer thing or two loose about the earth, but to ask one to believe that a terror such as that depicted at the foot of the Mayan scroll was alive and being worshipped not much more than three centuries ago was a trifle too much. I said so with no uncertain sound.
“M. de Heatherslie,” answered the little man gravely, “you speak of what you do not know. What is that your poet says? There are more things in heaven and earth than your poor little philosophy thinks of. Why, tell me, are you convinced that such a monster cannot have existed? You but repeat what the ignorant said to M. de Chaillu about the gorilla.”
“Humbug,” said I, getting warm. “Monkeys there always have been, and monkeys there always will be. If this monster was like anything that nature ever invented there might possibly be something in it. But it’s a thing utterly outrageous. Who ever saw a hippopotamus with the neck of a giraffe and the legs of a lizard? and that is practically what the mythological god Cay is, both on the scroll and on the ruins here,” for we had found more representations of the loathsome divinity studded into the twisted inscriptions on the facades and walls of the temples.
As the discussion grew he began to light up as well. “Monsieur,” he squealed, with glowing eyes, “I endeavor to say it with courtesy, but you are ignorant and obstinate. You have slept away your life in the fogs of England; you think that there is nothing worth considering in the world that has not the cachet of Piccadilly. I tell you—I affirm to you—that I believe that far away in the unknown South much may have happened—much may still be happening. We are ignorant, you and I, but there is no reason that we should not learn. I have translated to you this document. I give to you my opinions on it. I say that it should be investigated, and to your family is due the first chance of investigation, if only out of respect to the honour of your uncle, who is unfortunately dead. But if you throw away this chance, then I claim the right to give this honor to France—my country. But I beg you to remember that I beseech you to make use of your knowledge first, that afterwards there may be no recriminations.”
I bowed sneeringly. “You do me too much honor,” I replied sarcastically, “for I can imagine that every savant in France is yearning to stand in my shoes. Why, heavens, man! do you think there’s a fool big enough to back you anywhere between Dunkirk and Marseilles?”
He glowered at me malignantly, flapping his hands against the turf. “Monsieur wishes me to infer then that I am a fool?” he queried coldly. “I accept monsieur’s compliment in the spirit in which it is dealt to me. But let me tell monsieur this. He may have the wealth, he may have the courage, he may think he has the wisdom of the century at his back, but he has no spirituality, and, I say it with assurance, but little intellectuality. He is crusted in conservative unbelief like an oyster in his shell. With all his practical qualities I pity him,” and he swept his hands abroad with a wave of disdain that was dramatic in its haughtiness.
You will perceive that the makings of a good quarrel were here, however absurd the subject. A sentence or two more and I and the little ass would have been, figuratively, at each other’s throats. Here Gerry stepped into the breach.
“Jack, you’re in the wrong; and what’s more, when you’re cool, you’ll own it. What’s the good of looking black at another gentleman simply because he differs from you in a matter of opinion? The remedy lies in your own hands. M. Lessaution tells you that if you sail in a certain direction he has good reason to believe that you will find certain things, or the remains of certain things, which he judges to be of importance. Well, sail there. We’ve a very great desire for something exciting to do just at present, and here you have an ancient family quest ready to your hand. I can’t imagine anything that could possibly improve upon such a providentially given chance. You’ve got the money for it, and the health, and last, but not least, you’ve got two companions ready to accompany you. If you’ve any spirit left in you, go,” and as he concluded his lecture he smote me resoundingly on the back.
I failed to see sense in this any more than in the Frenchman’s hare-brained purposes, but a sudden thought had come with glowing swiftness into my mind. I turned hastily to Lessaution, who was regarding me with anxious inquiry, and asked him a question.