When he raised his head he remained uncovered, for he saw at a glance that the place was sacred.

He was in the presence, not of Life, but Death.

The chamber in which he stood was square in form, and more richly ornamented with shell-designs than any other portion of the grotto he had seen, and facing the east was an altar hewn out of the solid rock and studded thickly with amber, malachite and mother-o'-pearl.

It was covered With the incomprehensible emblems of a bygone creed worked in most exquisite shell-patterns, but on it,--as though in solemn protest against the past,--stood a crucifix of ebony and carved ivory, before which burned steadily a red lamp.
The meaning of the mysterious light was thus explained, but what chiefly interested Errington was the central object of the place,--a coffin,--of rather a plain granite sarcophagus which was placed on the floor lying from north to south.

Upon it,--in strange contrast to the sombre coldness of the stone,--reposed a large wreath of poppies freshly gathered.