green doublet, and drew out a flat piece of silver of strange shape,
and with one side carved deeply with a notched Cross.

"Where did you get this?" asked the Hermit, strangely excited.

"I do not know," said Gigi, wondering. "I have worn it always. Not
even Cecco dared take it from me. I have heard him say so. But I do
not know why!"

"The lost one!" cried the Hermit, embracing Gigi, with tears in his
eyes. Then, crossing himself, he added piously, "Dear little lad! We
are in the Lord's hands. Gigi, you shall stay with me until the time
is come. But you wear the Cross, a blessed emblem. I shall call you
no more by that heathen Gypsy name. You shall bear the beloved
Christian name of John, to which perhaps you have as good a right as
any. Ah! I will not tell you more. I will wait until I see if you be
worthy indeed. If not--his son shall never know!"

All this Gigi did not understand. But he was happy to know that he
might stay. And he began his new life as one of the Hermit's animal
kingdom by hugging close old Brutus, his first four-footed friend, who
had brought him safely to this haven.




XI

THE PUPIL