poured in through many-colored windows, on which were blazoned the
deeds of heroes and saints. Strains of music from the great organ in
the distance floated out upon the air. Touched and thrilled by all he
saw, Gaspard exclaimed to himself: "The place on which I stand is
holy ground."

[Sidenote: Kyrie Eleison]

Soon, however, he perceived that the throngs of people were not
lingering, like himself, in awe and wonder over the great columns and
the dome, and the statues, and the paintings, and the windows. Their
eyes were fixed intently upon something that was going on in the far
end of the cathedral. An altar was there, and priests in white robes
passing up and down before it, and tall tapers burning around it. Near
the altar was the image of a man hanging from a cross; his hands and
feet were pierced with nails, and a cruel wound was in his side. The
people were gazing at this altar, and at the image, and at what the
white-robed priests were doing. The strains of solemn music from the
organ blended with the voices of priests chanting the service. Clouds
of incense rose from censers, swung with solemn motion by the
altar-boys, and the fragrance of the incense was wafted down the long
aisles. At last, the tinkling of a bell. The organ became silent for
an instant, as though it felt within its heart the awful solemnity of
the moment; and then it burst forth into new rapture, and the people
began pouring out through the great doors.

[Sidenote: We Must Follow the Star]

Gaspard went forth with the throng into the cathedral square. "And
this," he said, "is the end of my search. I have found the Christ. His