He took the ring, of which the dull-gold setting held an emerald in the form of a scarab with heartshaped base.
The fortune-teller turned it over in the palm of his hand, then held it out.
"Nay, this I cannot take. I thought it was a ring from the bazaar to go with thy dress of fantasy. Behold, it is an amulet of the heart, of—nay, I cannot tell thus quickly of what dynasty—with words of power engraved upon it which read thus:
"'My heart, my mother; my heart, my mother. My heart whereby I came into being.'"
The girl listened entranced, touching the ring with finger-tips which felt as snow-flakes upon the man's hand.
"What is an amulet of the heart?"
"In the days of Ancient Egypt, when the heart had been taken from the dead body for purposes of preservation, an amulet, a scarab, sometimes heart-shaped, was placed within the body to ensure it life and movement in the new life."
They both stood looking down upon the jewel, the girl's finger-tips resting upon the man's hand.
"Keep it," she said softly. "Keep it."
"I will keep it to replace that which has gone from me. I will restore it to its shape, I will take from it the golden setting of the ring. I will wear it upon my breast." And, bending, he gently raised the yashmak in both hands and pressed his forehead to the few inches which had rested above her crimson mouth.