“Prove that you are the man,”—and he asked me certain secret questions, to all of which I returned answers.
“You are instructed,” he said at length, “yet something is lacking; if, indeed, you are the Lord of the Heart, reveal its mystery to my eyes.”
“Nay,” I answered, “it is you who seek me, not I you. To Molas, your messenger, you showed a certain symbol; let me see that symbol, for then and not till then will I reveal the mystery.”
Now he looked round him doubtfully, and said, “You I have proved, and this woman is my daughter and knows all; but what of the white man? Is it lawful that I should unveil the Heart before him?”
“It is lawful,” I answered, “for this white man is my brother, and we are one till death. Also he is sworn of our brotherhood, and himself, for a while, was Lord and Holder of the Heart, for I passed it on to him when I thought that I lay dying, and to him cling its virtues and prerogatives. So it comes about that we have no secrets from each other; that his ears are my ears, and his mouth is my mouth. Speak to us, then, as though we were one man, or be silent to both, for I vouch for him and he for me.”
“Are these things so, White Man?” asked Zibalbay, making the sign of brotherhood.
“They are so,” replied the señor, giving the countersign.
“Then I speak,” said Zibalbay, “I speak in the name of the Heart, and woe be to him who betrays the secrets that he learns under cover of this name. Come hither, daughter, and give me that which is hidden about you.”
Now Maya put her hands to her head, and drawing forth something from the dense masses of her hair, she passed it to her father.
“Is this what you would see?” he asked, holding the talisman in the light of the setting sun.