“I require four stones for my purpose, and will see to it that the symbol engraved has the same quality as the stone itself, in order that its strength may be doubled,” continued Yermah.
“To be efficacious, this book must be made by election,” rejoined Alcamayn. “Each stone must be worked at the hour its particular planet’s position is strongest. This will prolong the good aspect forever, unless the stone is broken.”
“The sapphire reflects the blue of heaven, and belongs to the Bull,” explained Yermah, critically examining some polished gems, having arrow-head crystals standing out in startling distinctness in the prismatic colors. Sometimes they appeared in clouds, again in fields, shifting their scenes as often as he changed the focus. “This shall be placed in a square of gold.”
“The house of the Twins requires an agate, which is the natal stone of the priestess Kerœcia,” observed Alcamayn, handing the Dorado a beautifully marked moss-agate.
“Let that be placed in the gold below the sapphire. The emerald pictures the depth of the sea, and is the delight of its parent, the Light Bringer. It shall be in the third place.”
“The first gem for the blue square is a topaz,” said Alcamayn, “which rules the Lion, thy house of nativity.”
“This pale pink coral, with its delicate leaf-work, shall be its companion. It is of our common country, and will out-tongue my feeble words in its own behalf,” the Dorado continued.
“Here is a dewdrop laden with sunbeams,” said the little jeweler enthusiastically, as he opened a square of maguey fiber, and disclosed a first-water brilliant.
“Equilibrated love could have no better exponent,” assented Yermah, sharing his enthusiasm. “The bow and dart are here at rest in the sign Libra, where the Lord of Day begins his journey through the nether world. This sparkling thing shall find rest beside the coral branch fresh from the brine of Atlantis.”
“The scarlet block must have a fiery opal, and I have here an exquisite finding, recently brought from the Toltec kingdom,” exclaimed the jeweler.