Mr. Huntress passed it to him, although Everet Mapleson frowned at the act.
If Geoffrey had been pale before he was ghastly now as he received that small object on the palm of his hand.
It was half of a knight-templar’s cross, which had been broken diagonally, and was beautifully enameled and engraven!
He turned it over, holding it nearer the light to examine the back of it.
“Ha!” he exclaimed, with a violent start, while he glanced wonderingly at Everet, who was also regarding him with astonishment.
“Will you tell me how this happens to be in your possession?” Geoffrey asked, meeting his eye.
“Certainly,” the young man returned, with mock politeness; “it belonged to my great-grandfather, who served in the revolution. He became a knight-templar just before enlisting, and was presented with that emblem by the lodge of master masons over which he had served as W. M. The date of the presentation, with my venerable relative’s name, is engraved on the back, as you perceive.”
“What became of the other portion of it?” Geoffrey asked.
“My father has it.”
“Your father has it?”