It was a fragment from Nicodemia that had miraculously sent forth water for the baptism of Santa Barbara.
The notary used to point out this rough, sacred stone inlaid in a baptismal font of Holy Water.

Without ceasing to admire these historic bits of knowledge, Ulysses, nevertheless, used to receive them with a certain ingratitude.
"My godfather could explain things to me in a better way....

My godfather knows more." When surveying the chapel of Santa Barbara during the Mass, he used always to turn his eyes away from the funeral chest.

The thought of those bones turned to dust filled him with repugnance.

That Dona Constanza did not exist for him.