"
"But how am I to do it?"
"The aid of a Christian priest, and a Christian maid is necessary.
The priest to exorcise the powers of darkness; the damsel to touch
this chest with the seal of Solomon. This must be done at night. But
have a care. This is solemn work, and not to be effected by the
carnal-minded. The priest must be a Cristiano viejo, a model of
sanctity, and must mortify the flesh before he comes here, by a
rigorous fast of four-and-twenty hours; and as to the maiden, she must
be above reproach, and proof against temptation. Linger not in finding
aid. In three days my furlough is at an end; if not delivered before
midnight of the third, I shall have to mount guard for another
century."
"Fear not," said the student, "I have in my eye the very priest
and damsel you describe; but how am I to regain admission to this
tower?"
"The seal of Solomon will open the way for thee."
The student issued forth from the tower much more gayly than he
had entered. The wall closed behind him, and remained solid as before.
The next morning he repaired boldly to the mansion of the priest, no
longer a poor strolling student, thrumming his way with a guitar;
but an ambassador from the shadowy world, with enchanted treasures
to bestow. No particulars are told of his negotiation, excepting
that the zeal of the worthy priest was easily kindled at the idea of
rescuing an old soldier of the faith and a strong-box of King Chico
from the very clutches of Satan; and then what alms might be
dispensed, what churches built, and how many poor relatives enriched
with the Moorish treasure!
As to the immaculate handmaid, she was ready to lend her hand, which
was all that was required, to the pious work; and if a shy glance
now and then might be believed, the ambassador began to find favor
in her modest eyes.
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