"What? her secret?" said Mario, disgusted by the sang-froid of that harridan.
"You see," replied the old woman, "she had something around her neck that glistened, and she lost it struggling when they put her in the fire. Then she shrieked: 'I have lost it, I am lost myself!'—It must have been an amulet to protect her from a violent death, and I would like to find it."
MARIO FINDS PILAR'S TALISMAN.
"Look" said Mario, picking up a coin with a hole in it, which he saw shining at his feet, "is this it?"
"Yes, yes, that's it, my fine gentleman! Give it to me for the trouble I had keeping the fire burning."
"Look," said Mario, picking up a coin with a hole in it, which he saw shining at his feet, "is this it?"
"Yes, yes, that's it, my fine gentleman! Give it to me for the trouble I had keeping the fire burning."
Mario threw the coin far away, impelled by a feeling of unconquerable horror. He had read upon it a name carved with a knife. It was Pilar's talisman. Naught else remained of her save that testimony of her fatal love, a few charred bones, and the disgusting odor of burned flesh with which the atmosphere was heavy.