"Conrad of Haimburg speaks of it as resembling amber; Corneille de la Pierre believes it to be violet-tinted, and St.Jerome gives us to understand that it is not identifiable; in fact, that it is but another name for the jacinth, the image of prudence, with its water of blue like the sky and changing tints.

How are we to make sure ?" "As to blue stones, we must not forget that St.Mechtildis regarded the sapphire as the very heart of the Virgin," observed the Abbe Plomb.
"We may also add," Durtal went on, "that a new set of variations on the subject of gems was executed in the seventeenth century by a celebrated Spanish Abbess, Maria d'Agreda, who applies to Our Mother the virtues of the precious stones spoken of by St.John in the twenty-first chapter of the Apocalypse.

According to her, the sapphire figures the serenity of Mary; the chrysolite shows forth Her love for the Church Militant, and especially for the Law of Grace; the amethyst, Her power against the hordes of hell; the jasper, Her invincible fortitude; the pearl, Her inestimable dignity--" "The pearl," interrupted the Abbe Plomb, "is regarded by St.Eucher as emblematic of perfection, chastity, and the evangelical doctrine." "And all this time you are forgetting the meaning of other well-known gems," cried Madame Bavoil.

"The ruby, the garnet, the aqua-marine; are they speechless ?" "No," replied Durtal.

"The ruby speaks of tranquility and patience; the garnet, Innocent III.