Page:The achievements of Luther Trant - Balmer and MacHarg - 1910.djvu/234

206 modern scientific psychology—and that alone—could possibly be competent to deal.

"I saw, of course, Dr. Pierce, that I surprised you when a moment ago I assured your ward that I—as a psychologist—would be the first to believe that the chalchihuitl stone could exercise over her the mysterious influence you all have noted. But I am so confident of the fact that this stone could influence her, and I am so sure that its influence is the key to this case, that I want to ask you what you know about the chalchihuitl stone; what beliefs, superstitions, or charms, however fantastic, are popularly connected with the green turquoise. It is a Mexican stone, you said; and you, if anyone, must know about it."

"As an archæologist, I have long been familiar with the chalchihuitl stone, of course," Pierce replied, gazing at his young adviser with uneasiness and perplexity, "as the ceremonial marriage stone of the ancient Aztecs and some still existing tribes of Central America. By them it is, I know, frequently used in religious rites, bearing a particularly important part, for instance, in the wedding ceremony. Though its exact significance and association is not known, I am safe in assuring you that it is a stone with which many savage superstitions and spells are to be connected."

He smiled, deprecatingly; but Trant met his eyes seriously.

"Thank you! Can you tell me, then, whether any peculiarity in your ward has been noted previous to this, which could not be accounted for?"