A large and beautiful wreath of white roses, lilies, and maiden-hair arrived from Prince Ivan; and, remembering my promise to him, I went myself to lay it in a conspicuous place on Zara's corpse.
That fair body was now laid in its coffin of polished oak, and a delicate veil of filmy lace draped it from head to foot.

The placid expression of the features remained unchanged, save for a little extra rigidity of the flesh; the hands, folded over the crucifix, were stiff, and looked as though they were moulded in wax.

I placed the wreath in position and paused, looking wistfully at that still and solemn figure.
Father Paul, slowly entering from a side-door, came and stood beside me.
"She is happy!" he said; and a cheerful expression irradiated his venerable features.
"Did you also know she would die that night ?" I asked softly.
"Her brother sent for me, and told me of her expected dissolution.

She herself told me, and made her last confession and communion.

Therefore I was prepared." "But did you not doubt--were you not inclined to think they might be wrong ?" I inquired, with some astonishment.
"I knew Heliobas as a child," the priest returned.