“If children crown thy life, the youth must be their champion. Shall we consult him?”
Again Orondo nodded, and the statuette was ranged beside the dove.
“The lion has power and authority in his keeping. This emblem I shall choose for thee.” Saying which she stood it in the same row.
“By the dragon thou shalt know thy length of days. Does the outlook satisfy thy desire?”
“Proceed, Rahula, and mayst thou be led by the guardian of the circuit.”
The sibyl stood facing Orondo, while balancing a plain gold ring tied with a thread of flax over the ball of her left thumb. As soon as the string was straight, she exclaimed:
“I cry unto Thee who makest time run, and liest in all the mysteries. Hear thy servant!”
Slowly the ring began to describe a tiny circle. Then it swung farther and farther toward Orondo, until it was opposite.
“Propound thy question, but silently,” said Rahula, watching the ring, intently.
As if moved by some hidden power, the undulating ring answered his thoughts. The same increase in vibration as before, finally brought the ring in contact with the raised rim sufficiently to make it tinkle like a fairy bell.