human
What seekest thou of me, my son? he uttered, in the same low tones Luis had before heard.
gpt
If it is aught which my prayers can be of service to gain for thee, they shall, without intermission, be offered up.
human
In this case your prayers are not required, most reverend hermit, returned Don Luis.
gpt
I understand that you have in your possession a casket of jewels which you are willing to deliver to me for a certain recompense.
human
It is the truth, my son. I have a casket, about which I was yesterday speaking to that most holy and devout brother, the friar Diogo Lopez, a man in whom the gifts of Divine grace shine most conspicuously, my most particular and esteemed friend, yet one whose fair fame the tongue of calumny has dared to slander; who has been accused of consorting with robbers and evil-doers, even to sharing in the profits of their mal-practices. Oft has he come to me, with tears in his eyes, mourning his hard fate; and, in the hopes of gaining the favour of Heaven to clear his fame, has he flagellated his back with the cord of repentance, till the blood has flowed in torrents to the ground. Oh! brother Diogo is truly a righteous man!
gpt
Your pardon, Father! I came to inquire for a casket of jewels, and not to discuss the character of Fre Diogo; about which the less said in his praise the smaller will be the chance of his actions contradicting your words,
human
You are severe, my son, you are severe on brother Diogo. But about the jewels; now you recall the circumstance to my mind, I do recollect that he told me that a young and estimable friend of his was anxious to obtain them; and that he was to come here this morning, with a hundred and fifty milreas, which he was willing to give for them, besides thirty more which he was anxious to offer for masses to be said for the souls of certain unfortunate men who were killed a few days ago.
gpt
You are under a slight error with regard to the amount of the sum I promised your respectable friend; but the hundred milreas I will give when you deliver the casket, and I will, beyond that, offer twenty more to be expended in masses.
human
That is acting like a true fidalgo, answered the Hermit;
gpt
To Goncalo Christovao. Luis secured that also carefully in his bosom; and then, placing on the spot from which he had taken them three separate parcels of money,--two of the amount promised, and another of ten milreas intended for the hermit himself, the very great holiness of whose character he could not, however, help doubting,--he was about to take the taper from the altar, with the intention of finding his way to the month of the cave.--
human
Hold! impious man! exclaimed the voice of the Hermit; though, from what quarter it came it was impossible to tell.
gpt
Take thy sacrilegious hands from off that candle, which must remain till I have counted thy gifts. Retire the way by which you came.
human
I beg, most holy hermit, that you will not consider me like a mole, with eyes to see, or claws to work my way out of this cave; but, as I am anxious to return home, that you will throw a light upon my path to enable me to do so,
gpt
Turn, then, to the left as you face the rock, and you will soon see the bright light which shines on all men alike, the light of day;
human
If he does, he will plunge into the deep hole through which the stream flows; his feet are close to it already,
gpt
Then he is not where I thought he was, said the first;
human
I beg you will finish this mummery, exclaimed Don Luis,
gpt
Beware that you utter no blasphemy, said the voice.
human
Now, look more earnestly, and you will behold the light before you.