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to let the light shine past me as much as you can； that I may see
where I am going。 But I shall depend most on my hands and feet。〃
CHAPTER LVI。
THE LOST ROOM。
Donal then took the light from her hand； and looked in。 The opening
went into the further wall and turned immediately to the left。 He
gave her back the candle； and went in。 Arctura followed close。
There was a stair in the thickness of the wall； going down steep and
straight。 It was not wide enough to let them go abreast。 〃Put your
hand on my shoulder； my lady；〃 said Donal。 〃That will keep us
together。 If I fall； you must stand stock…still。〃
She put her hand on his shoulder； and they began their descent。 The
steps were narrow and high； therefore the stair was steep They had
gone down from thirty to thirty…five steps； when they came to a
level passage； turning again at right angles to the left。 It was
twice the width of the stair。 Its sides； like those of the stair；
were of roughly dressed stones； and unplastered。 It led them
straight to a strong door。 It was locked； and in the rusty lock they
could see the key from within。 To the right was another door； a
smaller one； which stood wide open。 They went through； and by a
short passage entered an opener space。 Here on one side there seemed
to be no wall； and they stood for a moment afraid to move lest they
should tumble into darkness。 But sending the light about； and
feeling with hands and feet； they soon came to an idea of the place
they were in。 It was a little gallery； with arches on one side
opening into a larger place； the character of which they could only
conjecture； for nearly all they could determine was； that it went
below and rose above where they stood。 On the other side was a plain
wall； such as they had had on both sides of them。
They had been speaking in awe…filled whispers； and were now in
silence endeavouring to send their sight through the darkness beyond
the arches。
〃Listen； my lady；〃 said Donal。
》From above their heads came a chord of the aerial music； soft and
faint and wild！ A strange effect it had！ it was like news of the
still airy night and the keen stars； come down through secret ways
into the dark places of the earth； from spaces so wide that they
seem the most awful of prisons！ It sweetly fostered Arctura's
courage。
〃That must be how the songs of angels sounded； with news of high
heaven； to the people of old！〃 she said。
Donal was not in so high a mood。 He was occupied at the moment with
the material side of things。
〃We can't be far；〃 he said； 〃from the place where our plummet came
down！ But let us try a little further。〃
The next moment they came against a cord； and at their feet was the
weight of the clock。
At the other end of the little gallery they came again to a door and
again to a stair； turning to the right； and again they went down。
Arctura kept up bravely。 The air was not so bad as might have been
feared； though it was cold and damp。 This time they descended but a
little way； and came to a landing place； on the right of which was a
door。 Donal raised a rusty latch and pushed； the door swung open
against the wall； dropping from one hinge with the slight shock。 Two
steps more they descended； and stood on a stone floor。
Donal thought at first they must be in one of the dungeons； but soon
bethought himself that they had not descended far enough for that。
A halo of damp surrounded their candle； its weak light seemed
scarcely to spread beyond it； for some moments they took in nothing
of what was around them。 The floor first began to reveal itself to
Donal's eye： in the circle of the light he saw； covered with dust as
it was； its squares of black and white marble。 Then came to him a
gleam of white from the wall； it was a tablet； and at the other end
was something like an altar； or a tomb。
〃We are in the old chapel of the castle！〃 he said。 〃But what is
that？〃 he added instantly with an involuntary change of voice； and a
shudder through his whole nervous being。
Arctura turned； her hand sought his and clasped it convulsively。
They stood close to something which the light itself had concealed
from them。 Ere they were conscious of an idea concerning it； each
felt the muscles of neck and face drawn； as if another power than
their own invaded their persons。 But they were live wills； and would
not be overcome。 They forced their gaze； perception cleared itself；
and slowly they saw and understood。
With strangest dream…like incongruity and unfitness； the thing
beside them was a dark bedstead； with carved posts and low wooden
tester； richly carved！This in the middle of a chapel！But there
was no speculation in them； they could only see； not think。 Donal
took the candle。 From the tester hung large pieces of stuff that had
once made heavy curtains； but seemed hardly now to have as much
cohesion as the dust on a cobweb； it held together only in virtue of
the lightness to which decay had reduced it。 On the bed lay a dark
mass； like bed clothes and bedding not quite turned to dustthey
could yet see something like embroidery in one or two placesdark
like burnt paper or half…burnt flaky rags； horrid as a dream of dead
love！
Heavens！ what was that shape in the middle？what was that on the
black pillow？what was that thick line stretching towards one of
the head…posts？ They stared speechless。 Arctura pressed close to
Donal。 His arm went round her to protect her from what threatened
almost to overwhelm himselfthe inroad of an unearthly horror。
Plain to the eyes of both； the form in the middle of the bed was
that of a human body； slowly crumbling where it lay。 Bed and
blankets and quilt； sheets and pillows had crumbled with it through
the long wasting years； but something of its old shape yet lingered
with the dust： that was a head that lay on the pillow； that was the
line of a long arm that pointed across the pillow to the post。What
was that hanging from the bedpost and meeting the arm？ God in
heaven！ there was a staple in the post； and from the staple came a
chain！and there at its other end a ring； lying on the pillow！and
through ityes through it； the dust…arm passed！This was no mere
death…bed； it was a torture bedmost likely a murder…bed； and on it
yet lay the body that died on ithad lain for hundreds of years；
unlifted for kindly burial： the place of its decease had been made
its tombclosed up and hidden away！
A bed in a chapel； and one dead thereon！how could it be？ Had the
womanfor Donal imagined the form yet showed it the body of a
womanbeen carried thither of her own desire； to die in a holy
place？ That could not be： there was the chain！ Had she sought refuge
there from some persecutor？ If so； he has found her！ She was a
captivemad perhaps； more likely hated and the victim of a terrible
revenge； left； probably enough； to die of hunger； or
diseaseneglected or tended； who could tell？ One thing； only was
clearthat there she died； and there she was buried！
Arctura was trembling。 Donal drew her closer； and would have taken
her away。 But she said in his ear； as if in dread of disturbing the
dust；
〃I am not frightenednot very。 It is only the cold； I think。〃
They went softly to the other end of the chapel； almost clinging
together as they went。 They saw three narrow lancet windows on their
right； but no glimmer came through them。
They came to what had seemed an altar； and such it still seemed。 But
on its marble…top lay the dust plainly of an infantsight sad as
fearful； and full of agonizing suggestion！ They turned away； nor
either looked at the other。 The awful silence of the place seemed
settling on them like a weight。 Donal made haste； nor did Arctura
seem less anxious to leave it。
When they reached the stair； he made her go first： he must be
between her and the terror！ As they passed the door on the other
side of the little gallerydown whose spiracle had come no second
breathDonal said to himself he must question that door； but to
Arctura he said nothing： she had had enough of inquiry for the
moment！
Slowly they ascended to Arctura's chamber。 Donal replaced the slab；
and propped it in its position； gathered the plaster into the pail；
replaced the press； and put a screw through the bottom of it into
the floor。 Arctura stood and watched him all the time。
〃You must leave your room again； my lady！〃 said Donal。
〃I will。 I shall speak to mistress Brookes at once。〃
〃Will you tell her all about it？〃
〃We must talk about that！〃
〃How will she bear it；〃 thought Donal； 〃how after such an
experience； can she spend the rest of the day alone？ There is all
the long afternoon and evening to be met！〃
He gave the last turn to the screw in the floor； and rose。 Then
first he saw that Arctura had turned very white。
〃Do sit down； my lady！〃 he said。 〃I would run for mistress Brookes；
but I dare not leave you。〃
〃No； no； we will go down together！ Give me that bottle of eau de
Cologne； please。〃
Donal did not know either eau de Cologne or its bottle； but he
darted to the dressing…table and guessed correctly。 It revived her；
and she began to take deep breaths。 Then with a strong effort she
rose to go down。
The time for speech concerni